A Very Bad Turn
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Eimi, Bree
Date Posted: 1st October 2006
Characters: Abrei, U'kaiah
Description: U'kaiah comes to visit Abrei and they talk about all the things that have happened.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 13, day 20 of Turn 3
As soon as he heard what had happened to U'val, U'kaiah knew he had to see Abrei. He knew it wouldn't be an easy meeting, but despite her anger, he still cared for her. Besides, he was getting used to friends turning on him. It was a disturbing trend he hoped to Faranth he could reverse. "Abrei?" he called softly as he opened the door to her room.
Abrei was curled up on her couch, staring at the wall blankly. It was obvious that she'd recently taken a bath, but she hadn't done more than wrap an old, thick robe around her. Her hair was wet and tangled and dripping on the couch, and when she turned to look at U'kaiah, her expression was pinched with pain. "What?"
"It's me, U'kaiah. I heard about U'val..." He stepped into her rooms cautiously, not sure about how welcome his coming to call would be.
"I know who you are, U'kaiah," Abrei snapped, looking away again.
"Everyone may _think_ I've lost my mind, but I'm not stupid."
"I didn't say that you didn't know who I was, Abrei. I was just..."
Forget it. "I just wanted to see how you're doing, and ask if there is anything I can do."
"Oh." Abrei rested her cheek on her arm and closed her eyes. "I thought we weren't talking. Or something. I can't even remember."
"Well, I didn't stop talking to you, Abrei. And if you weren't talking to me, well, I'd rather you didn't remember." He walked over to flop down on the floor and leaned back against the arm of the sofa.
"You slept with my cousin," she said quietly, the pain obvious in her voice.
"I did," he admitted quietly. "Kalamath caught her green in a flight.
And after Jaela died... she came to comfort me when I needed it. I didn't do it to hurt you, Abrei."
"Do you know what people used to say?" Abrei's voice was so quiet he could barely hear it. "When they thought I couldn't hear. They said that she was the better version of me. Without all the things that made me not worth the trouble."
"Well, how would they all know?" U'kaiah asked darkly. "The people who said that obviously didn't know you. Or her."
"But it's true, isn't it?" Abrei didn't open her eyes, not wanting him to see how close she was to tears. "I can't do _anything_ right, U'kaiah. I'm bad with people, bad with romance, bad with emotions... I can't even do my _job_. I've been Weyrhealer for two years and have already been forced to take a leave twice! And both times someone else had to tell me that I needed help."
"You are a sharding good healer, Abrei. And you're not... _bad_ with people. You and I have become _good_ friends," something he had never thought would be possible when he was younger. "You've pushed yourself to be perfect all your life. So what if you're not perfect. I'm not.
No one is, not even Talryne. That doesn't mean your failing as a person."
Abrei finally opened her eyes and looked down at him. "They're making me see a mindhealer. Jynrek says I can't come back to the infirmary until I'm cleared by her."
"It's not a bad idea, Abrei. But not because of anything you had control over. It's not your fault, what's happened to U'val and Talryne."
"It's my fault I can't deal with it." She looked away as tears threatened again. "I think I might be having a very bad turn," she managed, her voice cracking near the end.
The bronzerider turned to lay an understanding hand on her shoulder.
"Aren't we all," he whispered quietly.
"I suppose so." She reached out to clasp his hand in hers. "How's Talryne?"
"Alive. That's all I can really say," he replied sadly. "I haven't seen her for a while. She doesn't want to see me. Or anyone else, really."
Abrei frowned and lifted her head. "Then what _is_ she doing?"
"The Healers say she is safe and is being cared for by a friend. That's all they will tell me."
"Oh." The part of her that was family was relieved to know that she was still clinging to life. The part of her that was a Weyr-trained Master Healer knew that clinging might be the best she'd ever manage.
Tears that she'd been fighting back for most of the evening spilled over her cheeks before she pressed her face back down into the crook of her elbow.
Last updated on the December 2nd 2008