Almost Civil

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 21st June 2006

Characters: Abrei, M'galec
Description: Abrei wakes up after her successful knee surgery and manages a somewhat civil conversation with M'galec.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 12, day 7 of Turn 3

Abrei

The world faded in and out for several long moments before Abrei could open her eyes, giving her snatches of low conversation and flashes of pain but no real memory of where she was or what was going on. Panic filled her when she couldn't move, and she struggled to sit up with a whimper. Hands pushed her back down and the world faded again before snapping into focus.

The ceiling of the infirmary was the first thing she saw, the one place she was guaranteed to recognize no matter what had happened to her. She vague heaviness in her limbs and dryness in her throat had become all too familiar since she'd injured herself, the aftereffects of the herbs and medicine they used during surgery.

She struggled to prop herself up on one elbow, closing her eyes as the room swam a bit. "Who's there?"

"It's just me, Abrei," a man's voice murmured quietly. "Don't sit up.
Here, I have some water for you. Would you like some?"

Abrei nodded, forcing her eyes open. She had one elbow holding her up, but her other hand shook as she reached out for the cup. Shards, she _hated_ the way it felt to wake up like this, weak and shaking. Even knowing it would pass, it drove her mad.

"Here, here," he said gently as he took her hand and set it back down. "Just let me bring the straw to you."

Her mind provided the name to go with that voice as she took a sip of water, but she was too thirsty to care who was holding the cup. After a few slow sips, she settled back onto the bed, closing her eyes again. "Where did Yishako go? Did he have to go back to Dolphin Cove?"

"He was practically falling asleep on his feet after the procedure," M'galec snorted. Perhaps the healer should have thought about the time difference _before_ he came. Sharding idiot probably botched it up, sleepy as he was.
"I told him I could handle it from here."

Of course he had. And now Abrei was trapped in the infirmary with him. Maybe she could sleep through it. "Thank you for your help. I assume everything went well?"

"As far as I can tell, but since I wasn't your surgeon, I really can't say."

Abrei stifled the urge to snap at him. "I'd assumed he would have left some information for me on the outcome, though."

"He said it went well." Of course, what else _would_ he say? Only time will tell...

"Fine." Abrei shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position. With one leg slightly elevated and secured in place to keep her from jostling it, it wasn't easy. Having M'galec watching her didn't help. "Well thank you for keeping an eye on me. You can send an apprentice in to help me get settled in and get back to your other duties, now."

"I have no duties now except to monitor your recovery, Master Abrei,"
M'galec said with a shrug as he stood to pick up an extra pillow. "Do you need another pillow to support your back?"

Faced with a calm, even-tempered and professional M'galec, Abrei felt somewhat at a loss. "I guess so..." "All right then," he said as he gently tucked the pillow behind her. "Is there good? Are you comfortable?"

"Yes, that's fine. Thank you." It was almost surreal, having him acting so careful and solicitous. In spite of herself, she remembered all too clearly the way he'd seemed to her when he'd first arrived... brilliant, gentle and interesting. This was the man who had provoked her interest, not that irrational, ranting one who had said so many cruel things to her. The bronzerider wasn't thinking of being gentle or interesting. He saw her as his patient, no matter what their relationship had been, and he was treating her the same as he would treat anyone under his care. "And the pain? How do you feel?"

"It's moderate," Abrei replied evenly. "But not unbearable." "What can I get you? Anything?"

"Something to read, maybe?" She'd probably not be able to get far into it before she fell asleep again, but the idea of just laying and doing nothing was unacceptable. "I had an interesting book on my desk on optometry that I was reading." "Optometry? That should have you asleep faster than any drugs I can get for you," M'galec chuckled as he adjusted the pillow under her head. "Are you sure you wouldn't like a novel?"

Abrei snorted. "Don't let Branalie hear you say that optometry is boring.
She'll corner you and give you a lecture on how she feels about it. But I promised her I'd read it, and I am finding it a bit interesting. There's been significant progress made in the refinement of some of the procedures lately." "Oh really? M'galec called over one of the apprentices and whispered in the young woman's ear. She obediently scurried off as he settled himself back in his chair. "Such as?"

"The accuracy of corrective lenses and our ability to refine them. That's what Branalie and her husband were working on before his death... he was a glass smith, I think. They really did impressive work."

"Oh, I am sure of it. Branalie truly knows her craft."

Abrei nodded, sinking a little lower against her pillows. They _were_
comfortable, and she might have been a little more tired than she thought.
Maybe she didn't need a book after all. "It's a shame you never got to meet her husband. He was brilliant."

"Yes, a great shame," the bronzerider nodded. "Did you know him well?"

"Well enough. He spent most of his time in the infirmary with the healers, so we all got to know him." Abrei sighed sadly as she thought of how devastated the journeywoman had been after her husband's death. "It seems you had a lot of respect for him."

Abrei shrugged, wincing when the thoughtless movement shifted sore muscles.
"He was smart and good at his job, and he made his wife very happy. What's not to respect?"

"Be careful there," M'galec warned, wincing along with her. Last thing he needed was for her to do more damage to herself. "Are you uncomfortable?"

"I just woke up from surgery," she replied dryly. "There is no such thing as comfortable." "Would you like something to help you sleep?"

"Yes, please." After all, this moderately civil conversation was unlikely to last forever, and it might be nice to be unconscious before pain made her say something that would start another fight.

"All right, then," he said rising to his feet. "You just relax and try not to move. I will be right back with a drink for you." The bronzerider gave her hand a gently reassuring pat before he went to find something for her pain.

Last updated on the June 22nd 2006

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Almost Civil