Think About It

Writers: Yvonne
Date Posted: 1st April 2006

Characters: Tsaera, Abrei
Description: Tsaera comes to Abrei for help with her headache, and ends up giving out some advice of her own.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 10, day 26 of Turn 3

Abrei

Tsaera sat back in her chair and rubbed her eyes. Her head pounded
and she was exhausted, but knew that the moment that she lay down
she'd be up again, pacing and thinking and worrying over things she
had no control over. Like Jaela. Like Lenala. Like Felarin and
Everlyin. Like the beasts in the fields.

}:You need to stop worrying,:{ Tabanirth said softly, cautiously
interrupting her rider's train of thought. }:Things will be, or they
will not be. And Vilarth's clutch is small, but she has clutched, and
you should be happy.:{

**I am happy,** Tsaera thought back, **Just not happy enough.** She
sighed and opened her eyes; it was getting late, and the air felt
soft and warm. She pushed away from her desk and looked longingly
toward her bedroom, then decided that she ought to make another stop,
first.

~*~

"I didn't expect to see you here this late, Abrei," Tsaera said.

"I work strange shifts," Abrei admitted, looking up from the hide
she'd been studying. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm out of sleeping tea. And I need something for my head." Tsaera
put a hand up to her temple. "I think my skull is going to split."

Abrei frowned, the words snagging something in her memory. Hadn't she

heard something about the Weyrwoman and headaches from R'han? Or
maybe it had been the time Tsaera had walked in on them... though
she'd been too angry at the time to remember much of what was being
said. "Let me get something for your head, first... then we can fix
up something to help you sleep."

"Thank you." Tsaera gratefully sat down at shut her eyes. "I've been
meaning to ask - how is your apprentice? Tiya?"

"She's... adjusting." Abrei studied the Weyrwoman's face for a
moment, judging her level of discomfort before reaching for something

stronger than the usual headache cure. "I don't think it will be a
quick adjustment, though."

"But she is adjusting, so that is a good thing." Tsaera hesitated a
heartbeat, then asked, "And yourself?"

Abrei's smile was tired. "My knee bothers me sometimes when I've been

on it too long, but it still seems to be holding up for me." And if
the Weyrwoman was wondering about anything else... well, she could
keep wondering. Abrei couldn't think of a person she was less likely
to admit her lingering heartache over R'han to. Except maybe R'han
himself.

"M'galec's surgeries have worked then?"

"Ahhh..." Abrei looked somewhat self conscious as she set a mug down
in front of the Weyrwoman. "Well, I'm sure they'll be helpful. I
haven't actually gotten a chance, yet, to have them..."

"What?!" Tsaera's eyebrows knit together in confusion. "Why not? You
requested time off ages ago - why haven't you taken it?"

Abrei's eyebrows drew together. "My respect for journeyman M'galec is

not what it was a month ago. I think I need a little time before I'm
willing to let someone that unprofessional perform complex surgery on
my knee."

"Unprofessional how?" Tsaera asked sharply. By the Egg... not
something else she had to worry about! "And why didn't you mention
this sooner?"

"I thought U'val talked to you," she replied, crossing her arms over
her chest. "It's not... shards, Tsaera, I'm not saying he's not a
good enough healer. He knows his work. I just... he said some pretty
outrageous things to me over that mess with Lenala, and I don't much
care to spend more time with him than I have to right now."

"So this is a personal matter, then," Tsaera said, crossing her arms
in mimicry of her Healer, "rather than a professional one."

"I suppose so," Abrei replied evenly. "As long as it's not affecting
my work, I'm not terribly concerned. Once things have settled down,
I'll deal with my... personal issues."

"Settled down how? We're in the beginning of a Pass - the sooner that

I have my Weyrhealer back on her feet, and _properly_ so, the happier
I will be. When do you think that will be?"

"A sevenday or two at the most. I promise." And if she hadn't gotten
over her urge to strangle M'galec by then, she'd find another healer
to take care of her. That might have the added enjoyment of making
M'galec even more angry...

Tsaera suppressed a sigh. "Please do. From the sounds of it, the
longer that it's left, the more difficult the surgery will be. And I
need you up and able."

"I'll take care of myself," Abrei replied, returning to the desk. She

set a small pouch down on it. "This is a mild sleep aid. You can brew
it into a tea, two pinches for a normal mug. It will probably take
affect within a candlemark and will make you drowsy for five or six,
probably."

"Excellent." Five or six candlemarks were all she really needed. The
Weyrwoman picked up the pouch and stuck it into her pocket. "Will it
help my headache as well?"

"It depends on what sort of headaches you're having," Abrei replied,
eyeing the Weyrwoman. "Where is the pain located, usually?"

"Right now it's between my temples. To tell you the truth, I don't
usually ask myself where." Tsaera smiled a bit. "Mostly I just cuss."

"Well, that could be more than just tension," Abrei said with a faint

smile in return, moving back to the cupboard. "If they keep happening
once you're getting some sleep, I'd like to see you back in here to
make sure there's nothing worse going on. But I can give you
something to add to the tea for days when your head _really_ hurts,
but you will have to be doubly careful about sitting still after
you've taken it. No wandering around."

Tsaera arched an eyebrow. "I'm not a wanderer now, so I doubt I'll be

a wanderer with a little head medication and a massive headache."

"Mmmmm. Well, just be careful." Abrei wasn't determined enough to
bring up the time Tsaera had wandered in on her in R'han's bed. She
set a small, bright red pouch down on the table next to the first.
"And like I said, if it doesn't get better, I'd like you to come back
and see me. I'd also like you to consider making an appointment with
Kyjare. He's one of the best massage therapists we have in the Weyr,
and if your headaches are being caused by tension, he could make a
big difference."

"I'll think about it," Tsaera said. She picked up the bag and stood.
"And _you_ think about that knee of yours."

Last updated on the April 23rd 2006

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