A Serious Distraction

Writers: Eimi, Nici
Date Posted: 21st September 2005

Characters: U'kaiah, Jaela
Description: U'kaiah comes to give Jaela a report on his health and leaves with a deeper understanding
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 2 of Turn 3

Jaela had just finished the last of the klah in her nearby pitcher and the new flight formation she wanted to try with her wing--the greenriders were nimble enough to fly closer to the ground and she wanted to see if trying them close to the ground and in a more spread pattern would be less of strain on them during Fall. When someone knocked on the door, it took her a while to break out of her deep thoughts and bid them enter.

"I'm reporting as instructed, Weyrwoman," U'kaiah said as he strode into the room, fighting hard to show not hint of the grin that was fighting to escape.

She nodded and set her plans aside, careful not to smudge still drying ink. He looked either smug or amused--she couldn't tell which.

"I see...and what did the healers tell you, Wingleader?"

"I'm to return to my own Weyr tonight," he said as he sank into the chair opposite her. "Tomorrow morning I am to report to the Dolphin Hall to have my heart checked. If they find nothing to raise any alarms I should be back to half-drills in a week."

She forced herself to quell her happiness and merely nodded. "See, I told you you'd be all right, didn't I?" She'd have preferred to get up and give him a hug, but she didn't like the idea that he'd judged her with Kavlyn and wasn't sure _how_ to act now.

U'kaiah had hoped Jaela would feel at least a _little_ excited by his news. Perhaps he had really hit a nerve with all that Kavlyn business the day before. "Well, we still need to see what the Dolphin Hall says.
The healers keep assuring me it's just a precaution, though."

She finally smiled. "What time do you go? I can come along for moral support..." Instantly, she wished she could bite her lip. As if he'd want _her_ along when he had a Weyr full of 'bosum buddies' he'd known anywhere from a few sevenday to many turns!

The bronzerider was shocked at the offer. Part of him thought it might be to make sure she had the full report straight from the dolphineers, to check up on him. Something else told him it was true concern, which was touching, and yet terrifying at the same time. "Thank you, Jaela.
I appreciate it, but I think this is something I had better do myself."

She shrugged, hiding her embarrassment at having asked with a show of nonchalance. "Suit yourself. Just make sure D'wrayt and myself get a full report in the end."

U'kaiah could see her eyes become a bit more closed, a bit more distant.
"It's not you, Jaela. If anyone was to go with me, I would want it to be you." He sighed as he leaned back in the chair. "Listen, Jaela, about yesterday... I want you to know that what I saw... I imagine it is not something well known, and your secret is safe with me."

"It's not a secret..." She sighed. "Look, I've always appreciated a sense of...discretion. I might not mind of people know I have several partners, but I suppose it's my upbringing that almost demands I conduct myself with a certain decorum..." But there'd been a time when she'd not minded, she remembered and shoved the memories of her lost weyrmate out of her mind.

"Listen, you don't need to explain anything to me. Especially not to me."

Her expression cooled even more. "Of course not." Especially since he didn't care...

"Shard it, Jaela, can I say _nothing_ to you with out you pushing me away?" U'kaiah could feel his frustration building. No matter what he did, what he said, she just moved farther and farther from him. Even when he tried to be understanding she could twist it into an insult.
Why was that woman so sharding determined to hate him?

She looked down at her hands, steepled together tightly. "I don't know...what to say half the time, U'kaiah...and I never know where I stand with you so it's easier to push rather than be shoved away..."
There, she'd gotten it out.

U'kaiah studied her for a moment, to shocked to say anything. Finally he rose from his chair and walked around her desk and crouched down beside her. He laid his hand across hers, surprised and how small they looked compared to his own. "Jaela, I don't know how many more ways I can say to you that you are the _last_ person on Pern I want to shove away."

She finally looked at him, a slight smile on her face. "Well, _that's_ a good start..."

His lips started to curl into a hopeful smile. For once he felt like he was actually talking to her, and that she was finally listening to him.
"You know, all those things I said to you in the infirmary about how I want to touch the softer side of you, it wasn't crack dust. It's truly how I feel, no matter how corny it might have sounded, and no matter what you think of me as a person. I know all you can see of me is a reputation, but I swear to you, there is more to me than that."

"I never gave a shard about your reputation, U'kaiah...you were the one with expectations afterall..."

The bronzerider searched the weyrwoman's eyes as he asked, "Jaela, what do you feel for Kavlyn?"

"Well, he's fun and he's distracting and I like him as a friend..." She thought for a moment, then leaned forward conspiratorily. "And he really _is_ a very good tailor..."

"But not a serious attachment? Just a distraction?"

"Not a serious attachment. Why? What are any of your bedmates to you, U'kaiah?" As far as _serious_, she only counted D'wrayt among that current number.

It was a question U'kaiah had plenty of time to consider in the recent days. Some of his bedmates had come to visit him, most had stayed away.
And he was only vaguely surprised to realize that he had not missed them. "They are woman that I have known from mating flights that I won, or lost. They are old friends I've known for turns. Some are woman that just liked something about me. But in the end, they are just...
distractions. They are Kavlyn's."

"And just what am I?" She reached out and ran her finger along his brow and along his cheekbone lightly. "Hmm?"

"You're Jaela," he whispered, feeling her gentle touch burning down into his toes. "You're the one who could break my heart."

Her hand slipped to his chest and stayed there. "I like your heart in one piece, bronzerider...I think that's the last thing you need to worry about."

"And am I just another Kavlyn?" U'kaiah asked as he lifted his hand to interlace his fingers with hers. "What am I to you, Jaela?"

"Someone who might actually make me choose one day..."

His brow wrinkled slightly as he looked up at her, trying to guess meaning from her expression. "Choose? What could I make you choose?"

She chuckled. "One day I might actually answer that. For now, let's just say you've got more of my attention than I feel comfortable admitting..."

He could not help the silly grin that was spreading across his face.
She might not feel comfortable, but that admission alone spoke volumes.
"And what will you do with all this concentrated attention?"

"I'm sure I can think of something. I too have a _very_ fertile mind, U'kaiah..." That said, she kissed him to shut him up _and_ because she rather liked the feel of his lips.

The bronzerider liked the way she thought almost as much as he liked the way she kissed. He liked even more the way he felt when he kissed her. But nothing felt better than having a glimpse, finally, of what lay behind those deep hazel eyes. He let his lips ask his questions as he wrapped his arms around her. For the first time, he felt confident that the answers would come in time.

For a minute she forgot where they were and just enjoyed feeling his arms, his mouth, the heat of his body. And then her sense of responsibility intruded and she reluctantly pulled back. "If I keep kissing you, I'm not going to want to stop."

"I already know I don't want to stop kissing you," he said as he brought her hand to his lips. "But I know you are right." **Sharding heart!** U'kaiah sighed reluctantly. "When the healers at the Dolphin Hall clear me tomorrow..." He let the promise and invitation hang thickly in the air between them.

"Hmm...I'll keep my fingers crossed for a clean bill of health and, if you're a very good boy, we can celebrate with a private dinner in my weyr perhaps. I've got this bottle of ice wine from Vintner Hall I've been hoarding since Master Fielton's party for Lady Enriline of Amethyst Cliff. I'll even let you have more than half a glass!"

"I don't know." A mischievous twinkle crept into his eyes. "Half a glass seemed to work well the last time."

She laughed. "If you knew just how much I liked my wine, you wouldn't say that. I'm greedy enough to quaff the whole bottle on you..." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Now get up and get out of here before I end up doing something highly inappropriate."

"And you are trying to convince me to go?" He smiled wickedly as he leaned forward to brush his lips along her neck. "I would have thought the Weyrwoman would have better negotiating skills."

She gripped his tunic and pulled him forward so she could whisper in his ear. "I can negotiate just fine. It's my ability to apply a little self-restraint that's in question..." "Shards, Jaela, there is nothing I want more than to break your self-restraint to pieces right now." Her mouth being so close to his ear gave him incredible access to the skin connecting her neck and shoulder. The strength in her hands as she gripped his tunic proved fuel for the bronzerider's imagination. What else could those strong little hands do? He leaned back to look at her. "But I know you are right. I'll go."

"Don't sound so sad...I'm all yours tomorrow evening after all." She released him and leaned back in her chair, smiling.

"Tomorrow, then." He couldn't resist a quick kiss before standing and walking back towards the door. U'kaiah didn't look back for fear that he would never want to leave.

Last updated on the September 22nd 2005

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A Serious Distraction