Scored and Scared {Assaila}

[Bellatora]

"I'll be fine, Gar..." she said tiredly, though honestly it did put some strain on her back.... but that wasn't the end of the world. "Hopefully it'll help with your headache..." she said quietly, her head still leaning against his shoulder. She very very gently smoothed down his hair at the back of his head. "I would say you need to bathe... but not with all these bandages.... or the stitches. That's just asking for trouble," she said, eyes closed.

"Then you must be incredibly strong, what with all the paperwork you do," she said, playing along, though the laugh that followed would have told anyone she knew he was joking and she wasn't taking him seriously when he said that. "Good?" she asked him, smiling softly. "Hopefully you'll see him for yourself soon... But he has been sleeping very well, much like you have been..." She hadn't moved yet. And she didn't plan on it until he needed her to.

"It's really hard to force me to do something when I've already set my mind to doing something else..." She yawned, covering her mouth with one hand. "Annaliese would be more displeased with me, I think... she doesn't know how little I've slept... but she knows that I have remained here with you..." She smiled softly. "I suppose you're right about that... Promise you aren't going to be going anywhere...?" she asked him somewhat teasingly, though with how soft her voice was it might be hard to tell what was teasing and what she was serious about. She was simply tired and in need of some good rest...

[Zirin]

"You'll just have to learn to live with my man stink," He teased. Now that she had mentioned a bath, Gar wanted nothing more than to crawl into one and just relax in the warm water. It would do wonders for his stiff muscles, but the bandages really would put a damper on things. "The healer's will sponge bath me eventually," he grumbled, hating that particular part of being bed ridden. It would need to be done, to keep his wounds clean, but he wasn't particularly fond of being babied.

"The strongest." He gave a weak smile. Perhaps he had been spending too much time with paperwork and not enough with training. Would the other night have been any different if he had been just a little stronger? Just a little more aware? Perhaps, perhaps not. He had been caught unaware, that was the issue... perhaps he should take to studying the threadfall charts too.

"I'm sure you'll do a great job with that goal of yours after you pass out and hit your head." Shards she really was an idiot sometimes. There was no use getting yourself injured or sick while trying to care for someone else. He groaned and rolled his eyes. "I can't even sit up on my own girl. You think I'm going to be running off any time soon?" He closed his eyes, leaning a little more against Assaila as his muscles protested him trying to stay up on his own.

[Bellatora]

"I dunno if I can live with it for too long..." She teased him right back, looking at him sidelong for a moment. "Well... unfortunately it has to be done... be a man and take it like one. It won't be for long." She teased him, her lips close to his ear. She was tempted to bite it.... but she wouldn't. That would just not be kind especially right now. She gave a soft sigh.

She was so very tired. But she wouldn't say anything about it. "You are the strongest. But it's not because of paperwork..." She gently kissed him just below the ear. She said nothing else. She was rather hoping that he would heal up without a problem. He'd definitely have a few more scars, though... She was almost positive he was thinking about how to do things better or different.

"That's a good point..." she said, yawning. "I guess I can sleep... but I don't really want to leave you hear. Even if you aren't going anywhere." She sighed and leaned into him to support him better, her head still resting on his shoulder. "I'm sure you'll get to see him soon..." she said, her tone becoming softer and softer as it faded out.

[Zirin]

There was nothing manly about sponge baths. Nothing. In fact, J'degar would rather let himself be dirty than allow the healers to rub him down. If it wasn't for the fact that his wounds needed to be cleaned J'degar would put up a fight about it. "I beg to differ. Takes forever to get clean with a sponge." He knew she was teasing him, but that didn't stop him from grimacing anyways.

Sometimes he couldn't tell if she was being serious or not. Of course it wasn't the paperwork that made him strong - at least physically. He had a workout regime that he followed to a t. His eyes closed of their own accord as she kissed him, and found himself wondering if the fellis was making him loopy. He'd successfully avoided showing her any response to her advances in the past, but this one had gotten past his shield. Yes, it was the fellis' fault.

"Oy... don't sleep there..." His reprimand was soft, but since she was currently his only support for sitting up, he wasn't quite fond of the idea of her falling over while sleeping. "You'll end up with a sore neck doing that." He let out a sigh. Really, she was such a pain sometimes. "I don't care if you sleep in here, or in my weyr, or out in the bowl... just get a good rest alright?"

[Bellatora]

"Well... It's going to be important. So I suppose you just have to put up with it. Besides... it's only temporary." She gently kissed him again, just briefly. It was a thrill each and every time to gently kiss him... Even just... like that... Not on the lips... just on the cheek or there by his ear. "You want to lay back down...? So I can lay down and get some rest...?" she asked him softly. She slowly tried to lay him back, her touch incredibly gentle...

"Mama! How is Papa doing?!" Annaliese said, coming rushing in followed by the little Brown Anori.

Assaila sighed. "Annaliese... please... inside voice... Gar's head isn't exactly in the best of sorts right now."

"Papa... you need to help me make Mama sleep. She refuses to rest! And I think she is going to catch a cold or something!" She looked at J'degar pleadingly as she walked over to his bedside, holding some charts like a real little healer... She was soon followed by one of the healers who was apparently keeping an eye on her.

Assaila smiled. "I'm fine darling... I was just going to lay down..." She said softly, still feeling very very tired.

"Papa, did you tell her to rest? Mama wouldn't rest when I told her too." The little girl looked at her mother accusingly and Assaila sighed and smiled, still trying to focus on gently laying Gar back down.

Annaliese could be a handful....

[Zirin]

 "That's not very nice," J'degar mentioned quietly as Assaila planted another soft kiss, "Taking advantage of poor injured rider..." Did he hate it? No, he was long past hating the woman's advances but that didn't mean he approved of her doing whatever she wanted while he was unable to really have a choice in the matter. He nodded id head in acknowledgement to being lain back down. He didn't particularly want to lie down, he would have prefered to be propped up by pillows or something so he could drink when he wanted to, but that would have to wait for the healers.

J'degar winced, groaning in discomfort at the sudden loud appearance of Annaliese. "Shards you're noisy," He grumbled, moving his good hand to massage his temple in the hopes that would alleviate the pain, though it did little. "Your mother's a pain in the neck, girl. She doesn't like to listen to sensible requests." It took him a moment to register that she was calling him 'papa' again. He groaned, wondering where and why she had picked that up, and curious as to how he was supposed to correct her. He somehow doubted 'I'm not your papa' would go over well, and she seemed to be in such a chipper mood too. He actually turned a pleading glance at Assaila. Perhaps the woman would have some sort of idea as to how to tell Anna that they weren't together and that he wasn't her papa. Or maybe... maybe Assaila was the one who put the idea in Anna's head... he wouldn't put it past her. 

He groaned again; he just didn't have the energy or will power to deal with such troublesome things at the moment. He blinked curiously at the young girl's clipboard for a moment, wondering why she was carrying healer equipment. Oh yeah... she had become an apprentice and was helping with Syphraelth, wasn't she? His lips gave the faintest twitch, a hint of warm pride for the girl who wasn't his.

"Well aren't you the little healer," He reached out with his good arm and gave her hair a weak ruffle, a silent wake of both praising and thanking the girl. "Your mother tells me you've been taking care of that big brown lump of mine. Don't you let him push you around." He knew Syphraelth could be hard to deal with when he didn't want to do something. Though, it sounded like he had been spending most of his time sleeping. Gar wished the brown would wake up just so he could hear Syph's voice once more, truly confirm he was okay.
  

[Bellatora]

Assaila smiled softly. "I'll stop... but I'm just glad you're awake..." she said softly. She would have hugged him instead... if she didn't think that it would cause him some sort of harm. Assaila had just lain him down when Annaliese entered and she sighed. She really didn't know why she was calling J'degar Papa. But she was fairly certain he wasn't a fan of it.

"You always say that, Papa," Anna said, grinning from ear to ear. "Mama's always been stubborn. But she used to say that being stubborn was sometimes a good thing 'cause it could keep you alive... But sometimes I think it's stupid." Assaila crossed her arms. When had her daughter turned on her. "Wuh-oh." she grinned at her mother who just sighed. "How are you feeling Papa?" she asked Gar.

And with that Assaila looked at Gar with a frown then turned to Anna and sighed. "Anna... Gar and I... we aren't married... we aren't even together..." The little girl frowned. "So! He promised to take care of me! That makes him as much my Papa as you taking care of me makes you my Mama." She crossed her arms determinedly. Assaila sighed and rubbed her temples. Joy. She hated to try to burst her daughter's bubble... but the truth was, well, the truth... "Anna-"

"Yes. Syph can be very stubborn, but don't worry. I won't let him push me around, Papa! But he hasn't been awake too much... He is very very tired right now..." She grinned her best cherub smile. "But he is doing very well and showing good signs of healing. Though... it may be a while before he is ready to take to the air... But with rest, he'll be just fine." She was looking at the chart.

Assaila felt herself swell with pride. Her little healer daughter was learning pretty quickly. She was carrying around charts and reading and understanding them... she was just an apprentice and only a few days in... but.... Assaila could tell she was learning fast... But she had always learned fast. Assaila was grinning, maybe a bit like a fool.

[Zirin]

J'degar shot Assaila a wary look, suddenly wondering if she had done anything weird while he was asleep. Once again, he wouldn't put something sneaky like that past Assaila... the woman was a troublemaker. Apparently her daughter shared his views, her cheeky grin causing him to actually laugh, though the sound quickly changed to a pained moan as his wounds protested the movement.

"She's a smart one," There was a faint smile on his face, hidden beneath the pained expression. "There's hope for you yet squirt." He ruffled Anna's hair again in approval. Being stubborn wasn't always a good thing. "I feel like a dragon sat on me and left me out for Thread," He said with the most serious pokerface he had ever worn. Despite the pain, he wasn't feeling excrutiatingly horrible; the fellis and numbweed had done their jobs so it was only when he moved that everything hurt. Not to mention, the company of 'family', however incorrect that term was here, helped lift his spirits a bit.

"Cheeky brat. She must get that from you Assaila." He huffed. He couldn't really tell Anna she was wrong though... he HAD promised to protect her, and the only way to explain that he wasn't her 'papa' would be to go into detail about the birds and the bees... and he didn't exactly feel up to that challenge today. "Guardian, I'm your guardian." There, he had tried. He'd have to talk with Assaila about it later.

"I'm glad Syphraelth is in such capable hands," He complimented. Children had always been a bit of a weak spot for J'degar, and seeing just how excited Anna was about this healer business was uplifting. He supposed, in a weird way, that Syphraelth and him getting hurt hadn't been all bad, if it meant Anna had found a good craft. He motioned for her to come closer, signalling that he had a secret for her.

"Now listen here Anna... this is a secret you can't tell anyone okay?" He paused for dramatic effect. "If Syphraelth gives you a hard time, tell him you'll fill his den with wherries. He'll do whatever you say after that."

[Bellatora]

"Gaaaarrr... I didn't do anything except not sleep. Don't look at me like that!" She crossed her arms and turned her back on him, even turning the chair so that it faced away from him as she sat, crossing her arms and her leg, head tilted upwards.

"Thanks Papa!" she said with a grin that could only make you love her more. "You did get scored pretty badly, Papa... and you're going to have some pretty bad scars... but you should make a full recovery and be able to move back to your own weyr soon... So long as you let the healers monitor your injuries. They are afraid of possible infections." The girl was looking at the clipboard again.

"Hey! PAPA!" She whacked at him, though it wasn't hard and it didn't even really touch him. But she walked up to him and climbed on the bed beside him, leaning down to hear his secret. "Oh I won't tell anyone." She said with a grin and gave him a little peck on the cheek. "I better go back to Syph. It's about time to try to change his bandages again. You should be able to talk to him then, Papa." She frowned. "Papa and guardian mean the same thing to me, Papa." she told him before skipping out.

Assaila sighed and smiled as her daughter came and gave her a quick hug and headed off to look after the brown dragon again. "Don't look at me Gar. I didn't teach her or tell her anything or give her any ideas. And I didn't mess with you so if you are going to lecture me, maybe I should just leave you alone to have fun with Syph and your lonesome little world..." She was irritable. That much was certain.

[Zirin]

Despite her protests, J'degar continued to give the potentially dangerous woman that wary glance, though there was the faintest hint of teasing in his eyes now. Despite the woman's past he actually trusted her more than others to watch over him, strangely enough. Perhaps it was because she had just proven how stubborn she was about her vigil. There was an amused twinkle in his eyes as she turned away, looking all offended.

"Bad scars? I don't think so squirt. Battlescars is more like it. A trophy to show I'm following my vows to protect Pern." What was one more scar on his ever growing collection anyways. Luckily, from what he could see the scaring would be mostly on his shoulder; he was okay with that. Besides, he supposed his scars were almost a trophy in regards to Anna's first experiences as a healer... He really was becoming to attached to the girl... He winced as she moved to hit him, though it wasn't from his wounds so much as from the expected pain. A kiss, instead of a slap, had not been what he was expecting, and he actually sat there, dumbfounded, until she had gone from the room, unable to even argue about the Papa title.

"Oh you taught her alright." J'degar replied sternly, "That girl's the spitting image of you. A pain in the butt, difficult to deal with, always stealing kisses! And!" He sighed, his voice dropping in volume as he looked up at the ceiling, "Oddly lovable..."

[Bellatora]

Assaila turned back. "Come on. She has stolen, what, one kiss from you and just because she is happy you're alive? How can you complain about that too much? Hmm?" She walked over to the edge of the bed, looking at him and scruitinizing him. "Alright... so she is more like me than I would ever want to admit... I don't want her to turn out like me, though... And I don't think she will... not at this point." She smiled softly, everything about her becoming soft. Her little girl had a real chance. "I think, sometimes... she'd be better off without me..." She sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, then looked back, frowning. "Did you just...." Did he just say... that... she was oddly loveable.... like... her... She felt a silence fall over her as she thought about this with a frown. He certainly didn't seem to love her... but he did seem to love Anna.

She was looking up at the ceiling and sighed. Her poor daughter didn't have much of a mother to look up to. She bet that Gar's wife would have been a better roll model than she was... if she were still alive. She bet that her daughter would have learned some truly good things from her... not matter that Gar seemed to only remember the stubborn streak that had gotten her killed. It was probably a good thing that she said none of this aloud....

[Zirin]

"You started with just one kiss too. Next she'll be taking them every chance she gets... if she's anything like you." He gave a single snort of laughter, "At she wont ever visit while I'm dealing with a flight." The last part was mumbled, but he gave Assaila a somewhat teasing look all the same. He didn't have anything to complain about when it came to that morning.

He raised an eyebrow curiously at the woman's sudden self-hate, though he didn't speak up. He didn't think it would be all that bad if Anna turned out like her mother; putting the lives of loved ones foremost in your mind and doing whatever it took to protect them? That was hardly something to scorn. Before he could think of a good way to say that though, she was giving him a look for some reason.

Not really following what had bothered her, he stared back in confusion. "What?"

[Bellatora]

"HA! I'm different, Gar. I'm an adult.... and a woman who wants you to love her already... and yet... I just can't seem to get under your skin to that iron wrapped heart of yours..." She turned towards him, very very lightly placing a hand on his chest. "And let me tell you.... it is a very iron clad heart if I'm not mistaken. You are a man in every sense of that word. You are strong physically, mentally, and your heart is strong and well protected. Which is the very reason why you just won't seem to let me in..." She sighed. Maybe she was in more than she thought she was.

"You just said the words 'oddly loveable'. You find Anna oddly loveable, huh? Or are you actuating us to each other in that equation." Her tone was somewhat teasing. "You know... I could take advantage of you and steal quite a few kisses if I wanted, but I haven't and I won't... Because You don't want them... and I don't know if you'd be upset with me or not... Besides.... I rather you wanted them... or wanted me... or loved me... But.... I'm starting to doubt that it'll ever happen that way... And no. She won't be sneaking into your room during a flight." She grinned, though there was a certain sadness to it and she turned way from him again, leaning against the bed with a sigh.

[Zirin]

J'degar flinched as Assaila laid a hand on her chest, not so much from the contact, but more because he wasn't quite sure how to handle the situation. Sure, Assaila had mentioned before that she liked him, perhaps even loved him... but this was just...

"Riders need... to be strong." Well if that wasn't the most pathetic thing he had ever said, J'degar didn't know what was. He couldn't meet her eyes, but he didn't move her hand either. Perhaps he had a feeling something else was going to be said. Sure enough...

"Take it as you want." He shrugged, not wanting to put ideas in her head. She was difficult enough at times but... oh now she had to go and look all sad and turn away from him. J'degar groaned... well aware he was going to regret this. Covering his eyes with his good hand he finally spoke again. "Its the stealing I don't want."

[Bellatora]

Assaila remained silent for a long few minutes, not moving, just breathing. She was turning his words over again and again in her head. Just not the stealing...? What did that mean. Did that mean... he didn't mind her affections... He just didn't want her stealing kisses... or was it more than that... stealing something more. She turned around slowly to face him and very very lightly touched the back of his hand with the lightest brush of her fingers. "What are you saying, J'degar...?" her voice was painfully soft as she looked at him, her expression so open and vulnerable and a little scared. She gently brushed his hair from his eyes. "Are you saying... you just don't want me to steal kisses from you... but you don't mind them... or are you saying something more than that...?" She removed her hands from him all together and rested them on the edge of the bed, just looking at him. Her breaths came more quickly, almost as if she was scared to take a truly deep breath. As if she could be punched in the gut any minute.... again. It was kind of like she had but she was under the extreme possibility of being kicked in the gut again any second.

Faranth... please don't let this hurt too badly... she pleaded silently, not meeting his eyes.