Like puzzle pieces (Hinsero)

[Rei]

Erilena had just finished checking on the few sparse patients they had that night. A rider who had come down with firehead, a candidate who had gotten on the wrong side of an angry herdbeast (all to win a bet) and a young weyrbrat who had broken his arm. Content that they were all as comfortable as was possible given their condition she made her way through the near silent halls of the infirmary. The greenrider may have been there in body but her mind was certainly somewhere else. It was still back at Selenitas hold. Her wedding had been two weeks ago but still at times it still replayed in her head. Dmitri’s smile, the music, his voice, the dance, and of course the wedding night. How could she not feel blissful about it all. Strangely enough however when their trip had ended Erilena hadn’t been all that sad about going home. In fact she had in a way looked forward to it. The weyr was where their life really was. Where Feyrianth and Dmisk belonged.

Hazel eyes briefly flitted over the stone walls and the hanging glows as she half closed them and moved out into the main part of the infirmary. The night shift was always extremely quiet. Thus the greenrider’s wandering mind. Not many patients came in at this time of night, so it was when the majority of the cleaning, inventory, and setup for the next day happened. Oh and studying. Always plenty of time to study. Adjusting the ring on her finger Erilena moved towards one of the only other workers present that night Hinsero. Knew him both from the infirmary and because of the fact that her new husband was a major part of the night sentinel. He was a sweet guy. A bit different at times with his talk of Faranth but the woman liked him well enough.

Walking up behind him she started to speak. “Hey Hinsero? Did you get…” Erilena trailed off as the scent of the numbweed he was mixing automatically made her retch. Quickly fleeing to the nearby stone basin she retched a few more times, struggling to keep her long blonde hair from falling into face. Mentally cursing as she tried to stop the retches the greenrider forced herself to take a few deep breaths. Why the scent of numbweed suddenly made her stomach perform back flips she wasn’t quite sure. It wasn’t like she hadn’t been smelling it for turns. But there was something about it now that always had her fleeing to the nearest sink or chamber pot. It was frustrating as all hell. Especially since she couldn’t exactly avoid it. Clutching at the edge of the basin with her other hand as she finally got control of her stomach she closed her eyes and forced herself to breath out of her mouth. Sharding Faranth this was embarrassing.

[Ruby]

Hinsero straightened his new badge - he'd recently been promoted to Senior Apprentice, something he'd never expected to achieve. He hadn't been Healer Hall trained, after all; his education had serious holes where babies weren't concerned. He'd been getting better, though, and could now be trusted with just about any patient at a very basic level. His mother would be so proud. Idly, Hinsero wondered where she was, and if she was alive. He wished there was some way he could find her, to apologize. Someday, perhaps.

It wasn't important right now, though. Right now he had to finish up this numbweed, so he could start putting it in jars and finish it before the night shift was over. Erilena's voice pulled his eyes around, however, and he drew his eyebrows together as she trailed off... then retched. Grabbing a towel from the table, the crossed the room in a few long strides, rubbing her back and gathering what he could of her hair out of her face. Hinsero had plenty of experience with vomit; it had never bothered him much. As soon as she'd recovered herself, though, Hinsero backed off. Healing was one thing, lingering with his arms around a girl so recently married quite another (Not that he'd really been embracing her or anything, Hinsero was just over sensitive about these sorts of things). He liked Dmitri; didn't want him getting the wrong idea.

"Erilena, are you alright?" he asked, offering the towel with a concerned look. "You didn't eat anything funny, did you? Come here, sit down. Should I call Kalierre? I'm sure she can cover the rest of your shift if you need it." Pulling out a chair for the other healer, he patted the seat, offering an arm for her to use if she was feeling dizzy or unsteady. Throwing up out of the blue wasn't a good thing.

[Rei]

With her eyes tightly closed, and concentrating on stopping herself from vomiting, Erilena didn’t hear Hinsero approach. When she felt a hand rubbing her back and her hair being pulled out of her face she almost jumped. Though the reaction was a rather silly one, realizing that after tensing the greenrider managed to relax a little. When the handler offered her the towel she took it with a trembling hand and nodded before using it to wipe her mouth not trusting herself to speak just yet. Yuck, just yuck. Maybe it was a good thing she hadn’t answered him right away because the man was going on about if she had eaten anything funny and oh dear… calling Kalierre.

Flushed, more from embarrassment then anything else, Erilena carefully made her way over to the chair Hinsero indicated and gratefully used his help to lower herself into it. When had her legs gone all wobbly? Hazel eyes regarded the handler for a moment before the greenrider finally found her voice. “Oh please don’t call her. I’m okay. Honest. It’s the numbweed really. I can’t abide the smell of it lately. It’s strange I…it never really bothered me before.” Attempting a small smile she wrung the towel between her hands for lack of anywhere to set it. “I’ll be fine in a moment or so. But could I have a bit of water? Please?” Realizing she was still wringing the towel she stopped and just let it sit in her lap as she waited for him to return.

Gratefully taking the glass from Hinsero Erilena carefully sipped the water, to make sure it would stay down, before taking another longer sip. “Thanks. I’m sorry about that. It’s a little embarrassing really.” The fingers of one hand ran though her blonde hair before she offered him another smile, this one more genuine. “Sorry for taking you away from your work. I was going to ask you if you got the list of herbs that needed to be replenished from Nysania yet? Before my stomach decided that it needed to be rebellious that is.” Now that she was away from the smell and was sitting down the nauseous feeling was thankfully quickly passing. “Not sure why it decided to suddenly start betraying me but it can be a little annoying.”

[Ruby]

"Ok, ok," Hinsero conceded, chuckling as he held his hands out towards the Greenrider in a gesture of calm submission. "No Kalierre." Once she was seated, the big Handler plucked the towel from her hands, then replaced it with a clean one. Only once she was totally settled and as comfortable as Hinsero could make her on short notice did he head off looking for water.

He returned a moment later, with a glass and a small dose of a powder to settle the stomach. "Only if you want," he said, placing the powder on the table for her. Leaning back on the table opposite Erilena, Hinsero looked at her vaguely skeptically as she apologized. "You know as well as I do that it isn't your fault, Journeyman Erilena," he said with a smile. Healers got pretty good at know what was and wasn't their fault. "And if you'll forgive me the insolence, I'll get you that list of herbs in a bit. You need to sit for a moment, and I don't trust you not to get right back up and start working. All you healers are workaholics... though I guess that was my entire life before I got here, so I can't hardly say anything about it." Hinsero was still smiling - he was nearly always smiling, but this one was somewhat more knowing than usual.

"So you say you didn't eat anything, and numbweed's been making you feel sick out of nowhere. Have you had any stomach cramping? Or been especially tired?" His eyes dropped momentarily to Erilena's chest, but Hinsero immediately looked away and blushed. Enlarged and painful breasts could be an early symptom of pregnancy too, but Hinsero wasn't about to ask Erilena about that, no way. "I mean, I know you just got joined - congratulations, by the way, I hope both of you are very happy! But you've been working so much lately, I doubt you've had much time to go flying with Feyrianth, or Between. Is it possible that you could be pregnant?" He paused for a second, huge smile on his face. "I mean, I know that's not the only reason you can throw up out of nowhere, but my ma was a midwife, and I have a bit of a... sense for these things. Any chance? At all?"

[Rei]

Erilena gave Hinsero a thankful glance and nodded as he drew her attention to the powder. She had been using it here and there and it did seem to help, but right now her stomach had half settled and she was content with sipping the water. Hazel eyes flicked back to the handler as he leaned against the table in front of her and she tilted her head as she waited for him to speak. When he did the greenrider blinked and then merely smiled in return. “Insolence? Don’t be silly Hinsero. You’re just looking out for me I understand that. The list can wait.” She did the same thing to others on occasion. Healers tended to work too hard and ignore themselves in favor of others from time to time. It seemed to be a common trait among them all. Who knew why. Logic dictated you should be at your best to perform at your best. While that was true at the same time they all tended to push themselves to extremes at times.

Giving the man another slight smile she nodded. “It sort of ropes you in doesn’t it? I think we’re all guilty of pushing ourselves a bit harder at one time or another.” Taking another drink of her water Erilena set it down and then pursed her lips slightly at the questions. Hmm. Should have known he’d jump right into healer mode. Deciding that it wouldn’t hurt anything to answer his questions she spoke after carefully considering them for a moment. “Stomach cramping? A little nothing terrible but more then usual I suppose. Tired yes too. I’m sleeping a bit longer into the afternoon then normal too. Maybe I’m coming down with something?” The greenrider lifted her eyes back to Hinsero just as he turned his head away and blushed. Blinking in confusion at him she tried to think up a reason for his sudden flush. She hadn’t said anything embarrassing had she?

Before Erilena could bring the topic up however the apprentice was continuing and she smiled brightly at him. “Thank you. We are very happy.” She trailed off as Hinsero continued wondering just what he was getting at before he dropped the question. Pregnant? Any chance? A brilliant blush lit her face and she thought back, searching for an answer to his question. “I um…well…I mean.” Hazel eyes widened then and she began to count back on her fingers. It was the end of March now. Being so busy and excited about the joining Erilena hadn’t really thought about it but now that the handler had mentioned it…. “Oh shards…I haven’t had a cycle since the end of December and I should have been due again a week ago.” Which meant she had missed three now. Normally she was regular as a heartbeat. Only skipping one when she was at her worst physically and emotionally.

A hand covered her mouth and Erilena gazed up at the smiling Hinsero her expression both worried and hopeful. “I…I know I betweened at least once on Feyrianth that I can think of off the top of my head. Could…I mean. Is it still possible that…” Was it wrong that she now desperately wanted it to be? A hand moved to rest on her midsection, the movement completed almost without any conscious thought on her part.

[Ruby]

As Erilena went through the paces, figuring out whether or not pregnancy was even possible, Hinsero just beamed more and more, practically radiating happiness and excitement. He loved babies, and Weyrs were a terrible place to find them - way too much betweening. If there was even a chance, he was thrilled. Had the mother-to-be seemed more upset, he would have hidden his happiness somewhat, but she seemed pleased enough; the sort of half excited, half terrified look that those about to be parents often had. He wondered briefly how the father would react, but he didn't know Dmitri that well yet. Well, he'd be sure to congratulate the man next time he saw him.

When Erilena said she'd betweened once, though, Hinsero's smile faded just a touch. "How long ago did you go Between?" As he waited for her answer, he ran over some facts in his head, then aloud. "You're near the end of your first trimester, so the baby should be stabilizing. If your trip between was very recent, or very close to impregnation, it is possible. I would still highly recommend a trip down to Blossom, to speak with a Dolphineer, even this early on. It is far too early to see what the sex of the child is, or find out much else about it, but a dolphin can make sure the child is healthy, not effected by the trip Between. Of course, no more Betweening for you in the mean time."

Pushing off the table, Hinsero grabbed one of the tools the Healers used to hear heartbeats, and knelt in front of Erilena. "If you don't mind lifting up the bottom of your shirt, I can see if I can hear a second heartbeat; it may be too early, so don't be worried if I can't. If it has been a while since the Between incident, however, I think we can take continued symptoms of pregnancy and apparent growth of the fetus as a good sign..."

[Rei]

The slight fading of Hinsero’s happy expression caused an icy chill to travel down Erilena’s spine. Oh Faranth. Had she hurt her baby? Please no. Because the minute she had spoken and saw the handler’s expression the moment she knew it had to be true. It all fell into place now. Why she was tired, why she had been nauseous those times before the wedding, the missed cycles, the rollercoaster like emotions she was having here and there. Denial was obviously a powerful thing at times. Wide hazel eyes regarded the man as she tried to remember just when it was. When she spoke her voice was less stable then the greenrider meant it to sound. “A few weeks ago. About two. On our way home from the hold. Dmitri is afraid of flying and we just wanted to get home at that point. Dmisk was with us as well so we thought it would just be easier.” Erilena rested her hand on her belly again as if she could somehow take that between trip back. Oh no. What if she just hadn’t aborted yet? Would she have right away? The rush of fear coursing through her alerted Feyrianth who immediately wrapped her mind around her bonded like a soothing blanket. Lenamine it is okay. Deep breaths and listen to the nightwalker man. He is speaking again.

And so he was. Whoops. Rather sheepishly the greenrider returned her attention completely to Hinsero. His words soothed her somewhat but not completely and Erilena found herself nodding along. “Trip down to Blossom. I think I can do that.” Yes she’d try at least. That would be a good idea. She nodded rapidly at the last part. “Of course. No more betweening.” Funny how a quick trip between never bothered her until now. What was the difference? She wanted this baby. A lot. Especially now that she knew it was here and living inside her and growing and…oh Faranth she was going to have a baby. Dmitri’s baby. Which meant that she had to tell him too. He’d be happy. She was sure he’d be happy. Maybe a little scared like her but happy. Lenamine. Love. You are thinking far too fast. Slow it down a little. Feyrianth chided affectionately. Though the dragon was very excited now as well. A little! She was going to have her own little. FINALLY. That had taken far too long for her liking. All that flight had finally paid off. Silly humans had done it right this time obviously.

Erilena was so in her head that she didn’t notice Hinsero kneeling before he until he spoke. Looking down at him she blinked and then flushed slightly. Only the bottom of her shirt? Sure she could do that. Glancing briefly around the room for other people anyway the greenrider forced herself calm. She was being silly. The man was healer for Faranth’s sake and as celibate as one could get. This was just another baby for him to worry about. Her another patient. With that in her head Erilena noticeably relaxed and lifted the bottom of her shirt for him. “Alright. I won’t worry. I know it’s still very early.” But heartbeat or not that didn’t change the fact that she was currently pretty much ecstatic. Curiously she watched Hinsero before responding. “Nothing feels wrong to me? I mean the symptoms haven’t changed since I betweened.”

[Ruby]

Hinsero brought his smile back - if Erilena WAS pregnant, she shouldn't be worrying more than absolutely necessary, and honestly, it seemed like she'd mostly be in the clear. "In the last two weeks? You're likely just fine, then. Once you hit the end of the first trimester, most of the baby's vital systems are in place, and it'll take more than a little cold to miscarry. If you haven't had a cycle in three months, that's likely where you are. You haven't noticed any changes since the trip Between, have you?" No, she confirmed, and his smile got broader.

Kneeling on the floor, Hinsero glanced up at the other healer. "Alright, let's see what we can hear." He warmed up the metal piece of the stethoscope before reaching to lay it on Erilena's belly, but before he did, he paused. "See that?" he asked, gesturing to a very vague, light line - practically unnoticeable - running from Erilena's navel down towards her pants, "Another symptom. And a good sign." Pressing the metal disc against her belly, he closed his eyes for a moment, quietly listening. "I think... I think. It's hard, hearing such a small heart over such a big, adult one. I think I hear it in there."

Straightening up, he offered her the stethoscope, then went back to lean on the table. "You can try to listen for yourself, I'm not sure how well it'll work. I'd definitely still recommend a trip down to Blossom... and congratulations, Journeyman Erilena! Looks like you're pregnant. If you need anything - anything at all - midwifery is where my training lies, so just let me know. I would be thrilled to help you in any step of your pregnancy!"

[Rei]

It was getting easier to breathe now. Erilena returned Hinsero’s smile and listened quietly as he explained why it would be okay to her. That at least put her mind at ease. The baby was safe then. Seemingly at any rate. Hazel eyes regarded him with a slightly nervous expression as the handler knelt and then blinked when he asked a question. The greenrider’s eyes moved automatically to where he indicated and she nodded. In all actuality she hadn’t noticed that line before. Showed how much she paid attention. It was faint though, barely noticeable, so why would she have noticed it? When he placed the stethoscope on her belly Erilena held her breath and waited, silently watching his facial expression. Probably wouldn’t be able to hear it this early. He had said that. But still when he said he thought he heard it she smiled brightly. Good enough for her.

When Hinsero straightened and handed her the stethoscope she took it and smiled at him. “Thank you.” The words were sincere as Erilena fought to keep from tearing up. She wasn’t upset. In fact it was completely the opposite. It was just sudden and shocking and wonderful all wrapped up in one. Now that the surprise had worn off a little she felt this sudden surge of possession and adoration for this little person growing inside her already. Didn’t have a name, or a sex yet but it was hers. Theirs. Like nothing else had been before. Literally part of her. Part of him. That gravity hit her hard and almost had her wanting to go to Blossom that night. But the greenrider took a deep breath and pushed that desire aside for the moment. First she had to tell Dmitri after all. Which she wanted to do that as soon as possible. Right after work. Work. It seemed like an impossibly long task now.

Finally with a deep breath Erilena rose from the chair and took a few steps towards Hinsero embracing him quickly and lightly. “Thank you. Really. I’ll keep that in mind. I might annoy you with a million questions tonight?” Smiling a bit sheepishly she let him go and bound up her long blonde hair. “So um. What do you say to working on that list a bit?” Work would help her keep her head until Dmitri got off work. That was the plan anyway.

(End Thread. ^^ Thank you Rubykins)