Have It Your Way

Writers: Eimi, Cali
Date Posted: 29th October 2005

Characters: D'cal, B'vin, Jansen
Description: B'vin falls in D'cal's company and reacts poorly.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 17 of Turn 3

"You're doing great, B'vin." Journeyman healer Jansen said encouragingly as he laid B'vin's foot back down on the table. "Your strength is really starting to improve in that leg. Another two or three weeks and we'll see about getting you seated back on your dragon." "That long?" B'vin asked with a groan, he had been hoping it would be sooner; he really missed being able to fly with Serenth.

}: It won't be long. :{ Serenth said trying to sooth her rider, }:I am with you always even if you can't fly on me. :{ "The muscles in your thigh were the worst damaged by Thread, and you need to be able to grip tightly when you fly." he explained again, having done so several times already, "You don't want to fall off during takeoff."

}: I would not let you fall. :{ Serenth assured him.

"I know," B'vin said to both of them in resignation. "Are we done?" "Yes," Jansen said standing up, glad to be rid of this most disgruntled rider. "Come back the day after tomorrow, and don't forget to do your exercises. I'll call for one of the apprentices to help you back to your room." "No, I can do it myself." he said sternly as he stood up on his crutches. "Have it your way." was Jansen's very even reply as he left.
**********

To B'vin, it always seemed more difficult to go down the stairs after a session than up the stairs before a session. It took the last of his energy to do the little hop-skip he had adopted to get back to his weyr, and he knew he looked the fool doing it. In the mornings, going to his therapy sessions, he didn't usually see anyone in the halls since the riders were out on drills; but when he got out, it was sometimes close enough to lunch to have people pass him by. In those instances he always gave the same 'go away and don't bother me' look and people respected that and didn't try to engage him in conversation or ask how he was doing, which was just fine by him.

"Ah, B'vin! Were you at therapy?" came a voice from behind.

B'vin froze at the top of the stairs. His 'look' wasn't appropriate for this person so he didn't try to use it. Instead he sighed inwardly and turned his head slightly, resigned to the fact that he would have to talk, "Hi D'cal. Yes, I just finished."

His friend could hear a note of frustration in B'vin's voice. "What's the matter? Hard session?"

"Nothing's the matter, I'm just going back to my weyr. Serenth is waiting for me." he replied, not making eye contact. "How is your leg feeling today?"

"It's fine." B'vin was starting to feel the muscles shake under his arms from the pressure of the crutches. "Um, I've got to get going, so I'll talk to you later, okay?"

D'cal stopped as he caught up to the greenrider at the stop of the stairs. "Wait, I'll walk you back to your weyr. Surely I can't hold you up at all. Come on." The weyrling took a couple steps down and turned to look up at B'vin.

He let out a puff of breath and started down the stairs, trying to make his progress look normal, even though it hurt to do so. He was not going to look like a fool in front of D'cal. "Sure." he said with a smile. "So what did they have you doing today?" D'cal asked as he took the steps one at a time, trying not to push the greenrider.

"Oh you know, same stuff." he said as he tried to keep a fast pace. As long as he looked normal...

B'vin felt the crutch knob slip over the edge of the stair, but he was helpless to stop it. The best he could do was to protect his scored side as he fell down the last of the stairs. Gasping in pain he threw the remaining crutch in his hand against the far wall in frustration. "B'vin, are you all right? Shards but that looked like a nasty fall,"
D'cal said with concern in his voice. He knelt down beside his friend.

"Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm not hurt." he yelled as he pounded his fists into the floor, "I'm just crippled!"

The bluerider rocked back a bit. He had never seen B'vin so angry before. "You're not crippled, you're _recovering_. But if you keep that up you're going to cripple your hand."

B'vin didn't hear him though. All he heard was the blood pounding in his ears. He tried to get up, to push himself up with the wall but his muscles ached so they didn't want to respond. He was so frustrated, and embarrassed, and hurt, he felt like crying. "Crying is for women and babies!" B'vin heard his fathers voice yelling at him in his head.
"Are you a real man, or just a woman?" **I will not cry. I will not cry!** B'vin repeated over and over in his head as he focused on the floor as he tried again to pull himself into a standing position.

"Here, I'll help you up. It's okay, B'vin," D'cal said as he reached down to help pull the greenrider up.

He hurt so much, and the concern in his friends voice didn't help in holding the tears back. B'vin could feel them forming on the edge of his eyes and he would _not_ cry! "Get away from me!" he yelled as he pulled his arm free of D'cal's grip, "I don't need your help! Just go away!"

"B'vin?" his friend asked quietly. This was a side of the greenrider he had never seen before. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push you. I'm so sorry. Don't be mad."

Dimly aware of D'cal he couldn't look at him, **I have to get out of here!** He gathered his crutches, ignoring the shooting pain in his side and face, and started to hobble the rest of the way to his weyr. He heard D'cal by his side and barked, "Don't. Don't follow me!"

The bluerider stayed rooted to the spot watching B'vin limp his way down the corridor, feeling thoroughly confused and guilty. B'vin hobbled the rest of the way to his weyr, eyes fixed on the floor.
He couldn't even give the two the passed him 'the look'. When he finally reached his weyr, he threw down his crutches and laid face down across the bed. Only when he was sure he was alone and no one could see his weakness did he allow himself to cry.

Last updated on the October 30th 2005

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Have It Your Way