You Call this Rest??

He knocked gently.  C'tain opened the door and smiled.  "We were wondering
when you were going to get here."

"Sorry I'm late, but I figured Koda would have a room full with you and Sina
and her parents here."

"You were right..." Koda said sleepily, but she had hoped he'd come by, if
just to see the perfection that now rested in her arms.

Trey walked in and smiled down at her.  "How are you feeling?" he asked as
he sat.

"Exhausted and exhilarated.  Wanna see her?" she asked, wanting everyone to
see her beautiful daughter. The daughter she was never suppose to have. This
time she had beat the fates.

"Of course.  Here... lay still, I'll get her."  Tenderly, he picked the tiny
baby girl up and looked into the perfect blue eyes that only newborns ever
have. "What did you name her?" 

"Talera."

He nodded. "That's a pretty name." 

She looked on with pride as she watch the expression changing in his eyes as
he took his first look at his new daughter. 

"Solly, aren't you going to take a peek?"

Gransol, who'd been hanging back, shyly stepped forward and looked over his
brother's shoulder at the child in his arms. He smiled. "She makes me think
of Larisel when she was born..."  A cloud of sadness seemed to pass over his
face, then he smiled again. "Congratulations, Lakoda."

"Thank you," she grinned sleepily, remembering this man was now an *Uncle*
to her daughter.  Talera suddenly had a bigger family then Koda ever
imagined she would. Not only an Uncle.. but two half sisters here in the
Warren, and others in Telnor. Plus a cousin, besides her Grandparents. 

She briefly wondered how his other children would accept Talera in their
lives, and how it would effect his relationship with them, then turned her
eyes back to watching Trey. And as she saw his lips turn up in a wondrous
smile and saw him rubbing his fingers over his daughters cheek in a soft
caress, all her remaining fears about him truly accepting the baby faded. 

C'tain moved back to her side and took her hand. She smiled up at him and
mouthed *I love you*. Saw him smile and return the endearment, then he
turned to the others.

"I think maybe we ought to give mother and daughter some time to rest up and
get to know eachother," he told them all and reluctantly, Trey carefully
handed their daughter back into her mothers arms. 

"C'tain is right, but I'll be around to see you both later," Trey told her. 

"You get some rest," C'tain told her after everyone had left. A room had
been found for her parents and they had said they would be back in the
morning to check on the pair before they went back to the Healer hall.

The next morning Koda woke up feeling more rested then she had in a long
time. But very sore. The soreness reminded her of the reason why and she
shot upright as quickly as her abused body allowed to look around for her
daughter.

Only to find her in the arms of Larsine who was leaning back in a
comfortable chair that had been brought in for him.

you're awake," he grinned when he saw her move. Getting up he came over to
her and handed Talera to her. "I think your daughter was just about to
insist on us waking you. She appears to be somewhat hungry.

"Are you my love?" Koda beamed as she looked down on the perfect little
heart shaped face of the baby in her arms. Without a second thought, she
pulled open the front of her gown and slowly brought her daughters lips up
to her nipple and help her find the teat. 

She felt no shame doing this in front of her father. He was a healer after
all and had seen a naked breast before. But this was different. This was a
sharing. A show of trust and respect.

"I can see she is her mothers daughter," he joked when Talera had no trouble
figuring out what she was suppose to do. "Being a piglet must run on your
mothers side of the family."

"don't know if you should let mother hear you saying that Da.. but after
seeing her cousins I think I might have to agree with you."

"Agree with him about what?" they both heard Kodin's voice as she walked
into the room.

"That we have the most beautiful granddaughter in the world," Larsine
chuckled as he turned to take his wife's hand.

"And I just couldn't help but to agree with him." Koda added with a wink to
her father.

"Well I hate to do this to you my dear, especially so soon after Talera was
born, but I just got word that we're getting more of the wounded from that
battle in Geode and all healers are needed right now. We need to go and
Ailill is waiting to take us back."

Good-byes were said and Koda was sad as she watched her parents walk out of
her room, but she knew they were needed for more important things right now. 

Talera finished her feeding and curled up and feel asleep just as C'tain
entered the room. 

"Thought you might like to be cleared and leave this place. Maybe take your
daughter home and let her sleep in her own bed for the first time, he told
her as a nurse followed him in and took the baby from her.

It was later when she was getting ready to leave the med center from home
that the dragons sent out the happy news abut the eggs starting to hatch.

Koda felt sad that she would have to miss this one hatching, but knew she
wasn't up to fighting her way inside to find a seat. Not with her daughter
in her arms but the decision was taken out of her hands a few minutes later
when Trak looking more dead then alive, stumbled into the center and was
helped into and examining room....

[Insert Kate's post here...]

By the time they got Trak bundled up to be transported to the Healer Hall,
Koda was to tired to go on home so she made her way back to her office and
the small bed she had set up there with instructions that she was not to be
disturbed for any reason.

"I'm on medical leave as of this moment," she told the head nurse before
shutting the door and settling her daughter in the bassinet some kind person
had placed in her office.

She was asleep herself the minute her head hit the pillow only to be woken
some time later when she thought she heard a noise and quickly looked over
to see Talera moving around in her crib.

"So you're awake little one," Koda cooed softly as she got up and lifted her
daughter in her arms then returned to the bed and laid down with the baby
laying on her chest.

The baby, already learning what she was suppose to do began rooting around
for the thing she was beginning to know as comfort. And food.

Koda laughed and reached out to touch her daughters cheek as the baby began
feeding. Warm feelings like nothing she'd ever felt before threaten to
overwhelm. 

So long she'd waited for this. For a child of her own to love and care for.
So long with little hope of her dream ever coming true. That made this
moment so much more special to her.

She didn't know how long she'd been sitting there just staring at the baby
who'd fallen right to sleep after her feeding, when a knock at the door made
her look away.

"Come in," she called out softly and saw Waylene stick her head inside the room.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you," she said and her eyes took on a dreamy
expression when she noticed Talera laying on top of her mother.

"I didn't see you at the hatching, and thought I'd come by here to see your
daughter," she told her as she came inside of the room. 

"I'm afraid she's sleeping again," Koda chuckled and started to get up. she
was glad in a way Waylene had come to see her, since she had fallen asleep
earlier when she should have gone and told her the news about Trak. She
didn't want her to think she was keeping anything from her this time.

"I'm glad you came by," the healer said as she got up and carried the baby
back over to the bassinet. "I was going to come see you after the hatching
to let you know how Trak was fairing after my father finished his surgery
but I must have fallen asleep....Are you okay?"

Koda was suddenly concerned by the ashen look that had come over the other
woman face. And even more when she seemed about to faint as her body slipped
onto a chair close by.

"Are you okay?" Koda was by her side in a minute, fingers reaching to check
the woman's paulse as she looked to be fighting what ever had come over you.

"A little dizzy for a minute there but I think I'm fine now."

"Have you eaten anything today?"

"Enough for two... or maybe it's just wishful thinking." Waylene shot her a
crooked smile.

"You don't mean what I think you mean?" the healer asked, a bit put out that
Waylene hadn't come to her for the test, but her next words settle Koda's
ego down.

"I'm not sure yet. But I'm about three weeks late," she confessed and saw
the look coming over Koda's face. "And don't go reminding me of Amberylle.
She's a million miles away and can't harm me this time."

"No.. but the drugs she gave you could have caused problems we know nothing
about and then there was that little case of.. umm...." Koda gave her a
knowing look and saw Waylene blush then frown. "I'm not trying to scare you
but I do want you to promise me to have the test run as soon as you can so
we can get on top of things and make sure Talera has a little playmate to
grow up with."

Neither woman made any mention of the talk they'd had sometime ago in the
Warrenlady's office. But both wondered what would happen even a  year from them.

"I mean it I want you in here for the test soon or you can go join Trak."

"What do you mean go join him, and you might as well tell me what you were
taking about before I felt faint. Something about Trak's having surgery.
Just what kind of surgery are you talking about?" Waylene asked and Koda
suddenly got the feeling she was in trouble again.

She stood up and began pacing around the room.

"I thought you knew.... No you couldn't have.. You were at the hatching,"
Koda answered for herself and then went on to tell Waylene about Trak
showing up and demanding that only she, Koda or Ailill do the repair work on
the stitches he'd tore open. 

Then she went on to tell her about finding the second injure that had been
missed the first time around and how she had made Ailill quit what she was
doing... knowing she wasn't up to finishing the job herself and had sent the
man off to the Healer Guide Hall to have one of the surgeons there look at him.

"Is he going to be okay?" Waylene asked concern veiling her eyes.

"I'm sorry...." Koda said softly. "I swear I didn't know that he hadn't told
you he was coming here or I would have sent some word... Or maybe if I
hadn't been so tired... which I know isn't a very good excuse... I should
have had Ribbon contact Aura anyway just to let you know I was sending him
off to the H.H."  

She was pacing around the room gesturing with her hands as she carried on
the conversation with herself over what she couldn't have, should have done. 

"Koda slow down and tell me what your father had to say!" Waylene's voice
rose just a little to bring her back down to earth. "You do know how the
surgery turned out don't you and when he'll be released to come home?"

"Oh yes. Father and mother insisted that Ailill stay there and watch the
procedure, so she could learn and be able to tell me all about it when she
got back," the healer said and turned towards her desk where she'd laid the
report down after reading it.

Koda knew Waylene wasn't going to be happy with what she had to report on
Trak, but was hoping the woman would understand that this was the only way
they could keep Trak out of trouble and see that he got the rest he needed
to recover. 

Without killing himself in the mean time.

She read thought the report, using words Waylene, who was not a healer,
could understand, and described the kind of injury they had had to work on.
Then before she could get to the part about him having to stay the door
burst open and Sina came rushing in, with the same look on her face Waylene
had when she was told of Trak's... day..

"I'm sorry to interrupt," she said quickly looking right at Koda. "But I
just got word that C'tain's leaving."

"What?" both women said in unison.

"He heard about Trak not wanting him to operate and decided it was the last
straw, and... oh, gods, you have to hurry, Koda."

"He can't leave!" Koda cried. "He doesn't understand what happened." 

She was on her feet heading out the door when she remembered her daughter.
She stopped, looked back at the crib, then nearly started to cry knowing she
couldn't go.

"Go!" Waylene told her, figuring out the healers dilemma. "I'll stay here
and keep watch over her until I can get a nurse in here."

It took her twice as long as it should have to get there even thought she
tried to hurry her body protesting all the way.

Koda didn't even knock or call out when she got there. Just threw open the
door and ran inside. But she could feel the emptiness of the place the
minute she stepped into the living room.

She hurried through to the bed room where she'd been spending her nights and
found the room a mess. His cloths were all over the place and she saw cases
near the end of the bed half packed.

But no sign of the man she had fallen in love with.

Turning, she left the bedroom and began a slow search of the rest of the
apartment. in the living room she found boxes of D'tass's things all ready
to go.

But it was in the kitchen, laying innocently on the table that she found the
piece of paper with her name written across the top. 

Slowly, she reached out to pick it up, almost afraid to read the words he
had written there for her to find. 

It was there, sitting in a chair when her legs refused to hold her up any
longer, that Sine found her several minutes later.

Koda looked up at the girl and through her tears saw the girl's eyes
focusing on the paper she had clenched in her hand. 

Sina took it from her when she held it out. Read it then looked back at Koda.

.....Bit, I've just heard what you did with Traknor.  We're supposed to	be
healers first. You should know that teleporting him to Tinnobal, especially
with qualified surgeons here, was unnecessarily endangering his life.  You
caved in again. I'm	angry, but not at you, Bit.  But I can't stay here. Come
to Cleft, please. I'll be waiting for you. 
						I love you,
						C'tain

"He's gone. Just like that without letting me explain," Koda cried. "He said
he wasn't angry with me... but he was! He was or he would have talked to me
before he did this! Gods Sine what am I going to do?"

"Calm down first off," the woman said and moved a chair around to sit beside
the tearful healer, and took her hand. "Getting this upset isn't good for
you or the baby."

"But he's gone... I was too late," she cried softly as her friend came to
sit down beside her. "I messed up everything don't you see! And he didn't
even let me explain."

"He was upset. You know how he feels about his duties here and he took this
as another slap in the face."

"But it wasn't... I swear," Koda looked up and begged the girl to
understand. "I never meant... I would never have.. damn it I just wasn't
thinking and Trak came in and wanted me... less then a day after having a
baby... I just wasn't thinking or I never would have allowed Ailill to do
something I felt she wasn't ready for...He never should have asked that of
me. Not in the condition I was in."

She had thought it only a ripping of the stitches. Something easy Ailill
could have done. But when it turned out to be something much more
complicated, Koda in her exhaustion had reverted back to the apprentice
healer who had always looked to her father for answers. 

"No he shouldn't have but that's neither here nor then," Sina agreed. 

"I know I could have made him see if only he'd of let me explain! I wasn't
giving in. I swear it. I just couldn't think right."

"I understand Koda," Sina reached for her hand. "I do... you should have
been home with your daughter. Trak should have realized that and not asked
you to do this. This is the kind of thing C'tain was so upset about with the
man. To him it just proved that Trak didn't trust him as a healer. But what
are you going to do about it?"

Her tears had slowed to a mear weep, but the rest of her felt as if a
mountain had collapsed down on top of her. Everything seemed to be going
wrong in her life. Dragons dying for no apparent reason that she knew about
(((Koda doesn't know about the magic shift yet....Someone will have to clue
her in))) Rider's killing themselves. Then the strange feeling that had come
over her when she'd gone to investigate.

To top it off Talera was a long time in getting there and Koda was nearly at
the end of her limit when the baby had finally decided it was ready to be
born.... then Trak.

Was it any wonder she couldn't form a coherent thought by then?

Now Sina was asking her what was she going to do. 

"What can I do right now?" Koda asked. "Something is happening here and I
just can't pack up and leave when I may be needed. Then there's Talera...
and with Ribbon sick too... Yes I know about her being sick even when
everyone seems to be trying to keep my mind off of it."

"We didn't want you to have to worry about her on top of your daughter. The
dragonhealers are doing everything they can to help her, but they just don't
know what else to do."

"But will it be enough?"  Koda cried softly.

----------------------------   

I wanted to do some more here... but if I do this post would have never
gotten out.....

Lyn I still want to do something with Ranon and Koda.. but It'll have to be
in my next post....I'm to tired right now....

Also Koda would like to know who Joined at the hatching... she just didn't
have time to ask.....

And she'll be upset when she learns Minty's baby is still missing...

****Submitted by: ******

Lakoda & Ribbon
Head of Marrid Medical Center.

aka
Barbara