Xanadu Weyr - Siebith's Weyrbarn
Covered in rough, weathered wood, aged by the weather and the sun, the irregular grayed clapboards outside of this weyrbarn lend the place has a rustic, masculine charm. White shutters and window boxes overflowing with brightly-hued tangles of flowers on the lower windows and flowering vines twine about the supports for the porch overhang add a feminine touch, softening the stark stone steps leading to it.
The worn stone floor of Siebith's area is just inside the large sliding door. The living area of the weyrbarn has an open, airy layout gives the utilitarian, bachelor-like plain white-washed walls and simple hardwood floors a sense of wide open spaces. A sturdy mahogany-toned table with chairs that somehow manage to match despite their variety accent the earthy, wooden tones of the kitchenette. The same dark reddish hues are in the door at the far side of the barn, as well as in the low-slung coffee table in front of the plush, worn couch. Dusky sea-blue rugs are scattered here and there. Dark golden curtains hang on either side of the many windows and partition off the loft up above, led to by a black wrought iron set of ladder-like stairs. Lilies arranged in glass vases on the tables provide a crisp of white counterpoint to the dark wood tones.
A new addition, the bedroom has walls of the same plain white, but the floors are made of newer wood, still shiny with polish. A four-poster bed of the same red mahogany takes up the most of one wall of the small space, a blue-and-cream linen coverlet spread on the wide mattress. A set of wooden bureaus take up the bulk of the wall opposite while another wall has been painted upon in the very center with a seascape mural, its crisp blue waters and sandy shores. The final wall is graced by a feminine-looking writing desk stacked with papers and bedecked with knick-knacks. Over the bed, a set of stained-glass windows allows golden-brown light mingled with white whorls and blue haze to shine into the room with the rising of the sun, though both panes are able to be unlocked and swung wide to accept lake breezes.
D'had has been MIA for a day or so, seen now and then in the office, but overall most of his time since the fire has been spent on stopping the flames and riding sweeps. It's with a hacking cough that he pushes through the door. Outside, Siebith settles for a nap, while D'had moves towards the couch to fall back onto it, a smudge of soot here and there across his face still.
Hacking cough is enough of a sound to awaken Thea, napping between her office shift and that resupply she's been grudgingly allowed to fly. Slipping out of the bed in the other room, tossing on a shift to cover the short nightgown she'd been wearing, she pads out in bare feet, rubbing at sleepy eyes as she peers around. "Donn?" She spots him on the couch eyeing him critically as she moves towards him. "You alright?"
D'had hears her get up, or at least he hears her once she comes into the main room of the weyr. He lifts his head to turn a tired smile her way at her questioning. "Yeah.." he replies, "Just been a long few days is all."
Thea continues on over to the couch, detouring on the way there to pause by the cooling unit, open it and grab him something cool to drink, her silent question as to what he'd like a raised brow. When she's got it, she sits beside him, holding it out for him to take. A light hand is applied to his cheek and forehead. He may say he's fine, but she's going to be sure of it, concern is in her eyes as she peers closely at his face. "Have you slept at all in the past few days?" By the look of him… The patter on the roof grows louder, although it has been coming down since very early morning, it hasn't been heavy until now. At least not here in Xanadu. "I hope it was heavy enough in the mountains to kill that fire?" A question directed to him, since he's been out there.
"Water," is D'had's reply to that unasked question and when she brings it he reaches out for it and takes a long, long drink before anything else is said. "Caught a few hours." Not nearly as much as he should have had likely. "Its under control at least."
Thea watches as D'had drinks, "More?" This when he lowers the glass. She frowns when he says he's only got a few hours of sleep, although she's looking fairly fatigued as well. Their shifts haven't overlapped at all, so this is the first she's heard of it. "I didn't see you when I flew water and food to the wings. Have you eaten?" She's half-poised to rise and get him something.
D'had works on finishing off what he has while she talks, shaking his head before he lowers it from his lips. "That's alright. I'll get something later." Right now sleep is higher on the list than food strangely enough. "You still doing alright? You go see the healers after the other day?"
Thea repeats slowly, "You have hardly slept and you haven't eaten in two days?" She's not looking too pleased. She hesitates when he asks if she's alright, admitting reluctantly. "Kinda tired." She blinks at the mention of healers, "See them? Nooo," Drawing out that last word, "For what exactly?" She's not sure she's following.
D'had shakes his head, "Ate." He did! There just wasn't time for much of anything of the sort in that time. That and he's not good at remembering to do so when there are other pressing matters at hand. As for her question there's a simple answer. "Baby?"
Thea sighs with some relief at this, "Good!" She half-grins for those one-word answers he's giving her, leaning in to brush a kiss across one of those sooty cheeks. "You must be so tired." Leaning back, that perplexed look grows, "No, haven't seen them at all for that. Haven't been to see them since that seed pod hit my neck and burned me." She shrugs it off in unconcern, "My ma never saw healers for babies. We had midwives there when the time came."
D'had just stares at the answer she gives. She's just lucky that he's tired enough not to throw her over his shoulder caveman style and take her there. "Doesn't mean you shouldn't. They're right here." Its not like she'd have to travel terribly far at any rate.
Thea laughs. Actually laughs at that stare before actually choking it back with an apologetic look for doing so. She grimaces, "Shardin' healers. Why'd I want to go them for now? For them to tell me I'm with child?" She snorts, still amused. "I already -know- that! Whatever did your ma do out on that ship of yours, huh?" She holds her hand out for his glass to return it to the kitchen, rising as she does so. Her movement causes a sudden hiss of pain, very briefly she pauses in standing, then straightens all the way.
D'had just shakes his head. She's going to be stubborn about it isn't she. Not that he really would have expected anything else from her. "Make sure things are goin' alright. Ma checked in when we were in port, stayed in when it was close." He's guessing as much there, but its logical at least. He might be tired, but that pause of her's has him nearly jumping to put an arm around her for support. "That's one reason right there," he says looking at her with concern.
Thea tries to laugh that off as well, her quiet chuckle preceding the words, "I'm nowhere near close, Donn." As he moves, she leans into him reassuringly. "It's nothing, I'm sure. Probably just a sore muscle from when I fell on that rock the other day." She shrugs, patting his arm. "You should sleep. Let me get this to the sink and I'll join you. I'm not due to the office for a few hours yet." She tries to slip from his arm, turning as she does so, which causes another wince and a sharp intake of breath.
D'had shakes his head, "I know. And that's why. Make sure everything's good. That fall's all the more reason." He blinks, pushing back sleep and shakes his head again, staying close to where she is. "Come on, lets go."
Those words have Thea backing away, "Uh, uh! I'm fine, really." Stubborn firmness in her voice. She turns and steps towards the counter with that glass. "Besides, it's raining." And indeed the tempo on the weyrbarn roof has picked up, beating a near thunderous din as it pours down. He can't see her face for the few steps it takes to get to the counter, but when she sets that glass down and looks back at him, the contrast between her dark hair and her face is too stark, the color has drained from it. "I'm just tired…" She leans on the counter for a minute, "Let's take a nap."
D'had would have agreed with her if it weren't for the paleness of her face as she looks back. "No," he replies, shaking his head and following after her. He rests the back of a hand against her forehead for a second, not that he can really tell anything from it. "Babe, you don't look good. We're going now." Regardless of the rain. He won't hear any argument no matter what she might protest and he picks her up to carry her out the door where Siebith is already waiting to shield them from what's possible of the rain with one of his wings.
Thea has tried before to avoid being carried cross-weyr by the Weyrsecond. At least for one of those times he's done so. She knows it's useless to fight it and besides she doesn't have the strength to kick and writhe. And no handy boot to whack him with, alas. "I'm just tired," she repeats, the words a little more than sighed out as she sinks down into his arms and rests her head on his shoulder. "You're too tired to be doing this…" Her words are cut off mid-sentence as her head lolls, and eyes close, lashes dark against pale cheeks.
D'had probably is too tired for it, but there's a thing known as adrenaline - that he's had more than a few kick-ins of over the last couple days. "I know," he replies softly, trying not to sound as panicked as he is, fear only rising when he glances down to find her eyes closed. Pace picks up at that moment. "Look at me babe."
Thea stirs, lashes flicker although her eyes don't open. "Mmm." Her lips part as if she was going to say more but that is all she says. Underfoot, the hard ground that baked all summer does not seem to be absorbing the rain, so thankfully there is little mud. The water appears to be running off rather than soaking in, seeking the low areas. Puddles are everywhere.
D'had splashes through those puddles in his rush for the infirmary, thankfully Siebith is easily able to keep up due to his large size (even if he is on the smaller end for a blue). "Look at me babe," he repeats, glancing down to her now and then, concern etched on his face. When he does finally make it to his destination he's shouting for a healer.
Reluctantly, Thea tries to comply with the request. Eyelids are heavy as they open slowly and for a moment before they step out of the rain, glass-green eyes meet his, sliding past his shoulder to that blue membrane stretched above them, puzzlement that clears as she smiles serenely, "That my hero? Siebith, you've pulled me from the lake." Eyes back to D'had and a faint frown, "I'm sorry I tipped the sailboat over." Lids close as her eyes roll back. A sighed, "I love rain…"
Xanadu Weyr - Infirmary
The infirmary here is intended for human care. It is spotless and smells of disinfectant, cots are lined up against one wall, a curtain can be pulled to give some privacy to the occupants of the cots if they so desire. A cabinet stands off against another wall, instruments and medications stored against when they will be needed. A couple of curtained off beds are used for examinations of patients and the treatment of minor injuries which won't require long term care. A desk with chair is just off of the doorway for the healer to sit and catch up on record keeping after a long days work.
At that shout the On Duty at the back desk looks up with a frown, "Keep it down, we have patients who need-" She spots the form carried by the Weyrsecond and rises to stride their way. "Put her here." She indicates an empty bed, drawing screens 'round. "What happened?" Terse, all business.
D'had has no apology for his noise. He required attention as soon as he could have it. He does as ordered though, laying Thea down on the cot he's pointed towards. "Don't know. Just got back from the fires. Said she was tired, acted like she hurt and then she looked real pale. Brought her straight here," he rushes through the explanation.
Thea stirs once again as she is placed on the cot, attempting to curl on her side, patting the mattress with a seeking hand. Her eyes open once more, move about until she sees D'had and reaches for him. "I'm sorry… I turned it too fast." Confused, she plucks at her nightshift. "Need to get out of this wet-" Her eyes drift shut once more.
Meanwhile the healer asks a series of short questions as she bends to examine the weyrwoman, checking pulse, breathing, temperature and such. "Was she out with the wings? How has she been sleeping? Has she eaten today?" She keeps half-attention on whatever answers the Weyrsecond gives, her checking finished, she straightens, "Her blood pressure is a little low. Anything else I should know about?"
D'had stretches a hand to meet the one Thea reaches with as he shakes his head. "Weren't in the boat…" he says, confused. There's a second shake of his head for the healer's questions. "Said she brought food and water out at least once. Wasn't flyin' the fires though. I dunno bout the rest. Been out there." A nod in the direction in which the fires were. "She's pregnant." Beat. "Fell the other day. Didn't know she ain't been in."
"It was raining." Thea murmurs to that comment about the boat, her brow forming a slight wrinkle before her eyes drift shut once more. She rouses to chip in, "Brought water lots of times. For drinking. For dumping. Seryth can carry a lot." She tries to open her eyes to meet D'had's. Wanting to say, for she knows he didn't know this, "Flew some hours at it. To keep the ones digging the breaks from burning." To the healer, "Didn't fall hard. It's nothing." Her eyes remain on the Weyrsecond, apology in them.
The healer's eyes flick to the weyrwoman, and she shakes her head as she asks another series of questions, "How far along?" And more about the fall. She lifts the nightgown, gentle fingers probe her stomach, noting that it is near the hip where Thea winces. "She's bruised the tendon here," she notes to both of them. Looks like her hip took the impact." She points out the purple mark on her hip, rises and pats the worried Weyrsecond reassuringly on the shoulder. She then ignores the woman on the cot in favor of gathering supplies from the stand near the bed, draws some blood and slips out with the tubes. She returns, hands the Weyrsecond a cup of liquid. "It's juice, fortified with vitamins and sugar. Have her sip it slowly. Be right back." And she slips out, leaving them alone.
D'had keeps hold of the weyrwoman's hand, giving it a light squeeze of assurance for her attempted apology. The healer's question catches him off guard and he takes a moment to do the math. "Couple months? Three, or four?" He's not exactly sure on that. Everything is moving far too fast for him right at the moment and he simply nods, agreeing when he's suppose to. He takes the cup without a word, taking a seat on the edge of the cot to prop Thea up. "Drink this," he says softly, holding it for her.
Thea pushes herself up to sit, eyes flick from the healer's back to D'had. She sips, eyeing him over the rim as she does so. She pulls her head back to swallow, "How'd I get in here?" And while waiting for him to answer that she drinks obediently, once again pulling back to add, "Don't be mad? No one asked me to haul the dumping water. I asked the weyrlings to help me rig a cloth sling. They were so hot…"
"Brought you," D'had replies, offering up a bit of a smile for her, hoping to reassure. "Just sip," he notes of the drink. That is what the healer said. Right? "Not mad," he adds with a shake of his head, "Were just tryin' to help, wish you'd take it easy though…."
"You brought me." Like she doesn't quite believe it, then, "Well you better not leave me here! Or-" Thea eyes him with a look he'd do well to recognize. She lifts her hands to cup over his, helping hold that cup and drains it. "I… know," she admits after she's swallowed the last of it. "I didn't go near the fire, though. Just dumped it on the folks digging." Take it easy. "Sometimes… I just can't, Donn."
After some minutes, the healer returns, stepping back inside the screen. "The blood tests confirm it. You are expecting! Congratulations Mom and Dad." She's all cheery as she hands the Weyrsecond a packet of power. "Twice a day, one teaspoon in juice. Vitamins." Professional eyes assess both of them in turn. "More rest - sleep - for the both of you." Her attention turns to the weyrwoman," Activities as normal, you'll know when the time comes to cut back." She chuckles, adding, "Checkup once a month until the last month." With a wave of her hand, "Anything else?" Obviously not worried.
"Won't," D'had assures, hand on her shoulder gently running through her hair where he can reach without moving it. "I know." He's not mad at her, not by a longshot, just concerned for her well being. When the healer returns the man lifts his gaze towards her, silently questioning what she might have to say. Is that a blush at her congratulation? Its hard to tell with that soot still clinging to his face in places as well as the bronzen tone of his skin after the long summer. He leaves the cup on the bedside table, taking that vitamin packet from her then. "Thanks." But a look goes to Thea all the same, that 'I told you so' though its still laced with concern.
Thea knew that! Healers and their fancy tests. She slides D'had a grin at the 'congratulations', then listens to the healer, nodding her understanding, although she cannot help but make a face for the requirement to have regular checkups. She's sliding a glance at D'had as the healer speaks, gauging how he's taking it. At that 'anything else' from the healer, she hastily shakes her head and swings her legs over that cot, reaching for D'had's arm to steady herself. His assurance is met with a brief, "Thanks," and she's not tempting fate by staying one moment longer. She offers the healer a breezy, "Thanks!" and rises with an almost inaudible, "Let's go," sing-songed to him out of the corner of her mouth.
"Right then." Since there are no more questions for her, the healer begins removing the screens from around the cot and then it's back to her desk to write up the chart. She's there if they need her.
D'had nods, keeping careful watch over Thea as she swings to her feet. He shakes his head for questions as well. If she doesn't have anything he's not going to be the one to prolong the visit any longer either. He's too tired for that and now that he's quite a bit less stressed out over the weyrwoman sleep is calling all too loudly.
Thea keeps a hold of D'had's arm as they walk to the door, still a little wobbly although her color is coming beginning to come back. When they reach it the rain has increased to a near-torrent, coming down so hard it's really too loud for talking. She hesitates at the door, looks around to spot Siebith, then peers down at her bare feet. Ah well. She lifts her nightshift to keep it from getting too wet and prepares to step out into the streaming ground.
D'had hadn't said anything about the lack of footwear on her part. Then again he was more worried about other things than noticing if she had anything on her feet when they left. He stays close on the walk to the door, but her hesitation there has him glancing downward as well. "Here," he says, bending to pick her up, set to carry her back as well. Siebith is out of the way, but he didn't stray too far and so about the time they're ready to step out into said rain the blue is ready and waiting with his makeshift umbrella.
"You shouldn't, really. Your shoulder!" Thea protests as D'had picks her up. Nevertheless, she slides an arm around him, once more snuggling her head against his shoulder. This time she is much more alert as they cross the Weyr. She lifts her head once, and since the rain is so loud, she places her lips close to his ear, "Makin' a habit of this, Weyrsecond."
D'had isn't listening to protests. There's a wince as he lifts her, twisting not quite in the right way for his shoulder to be happy. He'll deal though. "Don't get used to it weyrwoman," he replies, a touch of teasing in his tone.
Thea snuggles her head back down underneath D'had's chin as he walks along and perhaps he cannot see the smile that touches her lips. "Too late," she murmurs smugly to herself. And if he's not headed to dump her in the galleries to sleep alone or seek in vain to find her weyr in the dark of night, well. She's not -quite- used to that! Yet.
D'had chuckles, amused though tired. He sighs, resting his chin on top of her head. "Yeah well…" She's going to have to beg, or ask, or something next time. Puddles are avoiding as much as he can on the way back and he carries her all the way to the bed before setting her down. Likely some of that ash that's clung to him as come off on her in the process of carrying her there and back. He then sits to pull off his boots, trades riding pants for a looser more comfortable pair of pajama pants and returns to climb in beside her.
She could kiss his feet maybe? While he's busy drying and changing, Thea snags a clean nightdress out of the stand beside her bed and swaps the ashy one for a clean one. Too tired to leave the bed to put it in the hamper, she just balls it up and tosses it in the general direction where it lands soundlessly on the floor. She doesn't even wait to watch where it lands; she'll just have to get it later. She's flipping down the coverlet for D'had, slipping between jasmine-scented sheets beside him, finding the place by his side where she fits comfortably. "Feel better now?" No sarcasm, although there might be some gentle irony and a hint of teasing there.
D'had's face and hands are still soot smudged, but linens will wash and right now sleep is just too tempting. His eyes close almost as soon as his head hits the pillow, but it's not asleep quite that fast. "Yeah.." he replies, arm curling around her least she go anywhere. "Still worried bout ya, but.." Well there's not much either of them can do about that.
Thea's arm is already around D'had, but she lifts her head slightly to look at his face, noting the signs of fatigue and stress on it. While he can't see her though closed eyelids, she allows all the tenderness and concern for him to show on hers. It's been incredibly worrisome these past few days with him fighting both man and fires. For a minute she is silent, an odd smile touches her lips, "I know." She leans down to brush her lips on his eyelids, then snuggles down beside him, her head on his shoulder. Her eyes close slowly and she murmurs, "I worry about you too."
Aww. How sweet. Too bad D'had's fallen fast asleep in that short time span and doesn't get to hear it. But then again, it has been a long few days and stressful days at that. So really, sleep is a good thing.
Outside the rain continues to pour down without abating and the creeks and rivers begin to rise… Boy when this mess is over someone is -really- going to need that vacation.