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"Hey, it's reasonable to be a bit grumpy when you're sick," J'nes said soothingly to J'len. "When my dad was ill, he went around like a watchwher who hadn't had its morning klah until he got better."

Then something else she'd said registered and he blinked dumbly. Did she say pregnancy? That couldn't be right, could it? Surely she would have said something earlier if she'd suspected as much...wouldn't she? Or he would have noticed...then again, he was used to caring for small children, not pregnant women. He was his mother's only birth child after all, all his siblings had been fosters.

Torn between what to say and who to say it too, he ended up just looking from J'len and Bereck a couple times to see what they else they had to say on the matter.

J'len nodded her thanks. She was grateful; he'd confirmed her theory as well as having reassured J'nes that it was nothing serious. Honestly, that man. He would worry himself to death eventually, she was sure of it! "Have something to eat while you're here," she invited him. "It's the least we can do, when you've come all this way," she glanced pointedly at his cane. "We have some meatrolls and toast," she offered. "I'll make klah." She got out of bed, looking to J'nes. "Could you fetch Bereck something to eat?" she asked. Saying nothing more, the crimson rider made her way to the otherside of the weyr. "It's still hot," she assured Bereck with a smile, glancing over her shoulder. "Do you want sweetening?"

It kept her busy, rather than fretting over how J'nes would react. She had no doubts the brownrider would make a good father; but with Thread back, and the revolutionists--what a time to bring a child into the world! She handed the mug of klah to Bereck, flashing him a small smile. "Hyweth's told me how she and Berath are good friends," she said. "I never got a chance to thank her for her help."

He was almost placated by the offer of something to eat but then.... Then! His insides turned to ice as she looked pointedly at that thing. Pity. He did not want her pity, or sympathy, or allowances made for the poor cripple. The woman kept talking at him and passed him a mug. Bereck took it reflexively, feeling humiliated and about half an inch tall. Exactly what it was he was feeling wasn't clear from his expression but it was obvious it wasn't positive; his face set hard and flushed with the surge of emotion.

The cup shook slightly.

"It's not that far," Bereck responded tightly, fighting to keep his voice even and meeting with moderate success. "I am quite capable of crossing the Weyr." It had taken him quite a long time to get here, and yes it had caused him pain. He hated that everyone around him knew it. The people who didn't pointedly make allowances were probably just humouring him.

He wasn't doing a very good job of pretending that this wasn't bothering him.

The healer forced his hand to steady - he was good at steady hands - and raised the cup to his lips. The klah tasted like water compared to his but he was glad of it all the same. "It's fine. Thank you. And... Berath likes to help. She was glad to do it."

Now he was being accosted by biscuits, jam and berries. Bereck set the cup down on the little table by the bed and accepted the plate instead. "Thank you. This will be fine, I don't require anything else. If I do, I can walk to the mess hall." Like anyone else! Except he wouldn't; he'd send his firelizards with a note to get something.

Bereck ate a berry.

Now, a question. Back to being a professional. Still fighting to suppress his feelings the healer picked up the cup of klah for another sip. "There are some teas that can help somewhat with the nausea and vomiting," he confirmed, trying to sound neutral but still sounding tense. "I recommend that you go over to the infirmary and have a discussion with an expert. I know the basics of course but I'm a surgeon. Basic tips.... Eat small meals frequently, drink fluids in between meals not with them... bland foods, and starchy foods are generally easier on the stomach. Mmh, and when you're feeling really sick don't try to eat; stick to juices until it subsides." There, see, he was perfectly capable! This wasn't his field but he knew some useful information, shardit! He was still valuable, he was not just a crippled waste of oxygen.

"Most women find the sickness eases off around the third or forth month," he added as the fact floated to mind.

<...Ber? Are you->

Bereck snapped to the kind, concerned voice in his mind. he added, roughly shoving Berath's presence away and then shutting her out. He hated feeling her worry over him; it just confirmed that he really was still weak and pathetic, or did in his mind anyway. That Berath might just have been concerned because he was upset didn't occur to him; he was too locked into his certainty that he was weak and that everyone could see it to consider other possibilities.

J'nes nodded gratefully at the instructions, mentally filing them away for later. Yes, talking to a healer specializing in childbirth would probably be best. Why hadn't J'len called one over already if she suspected? But he could talk to her about that later. Among other things. Oh, sickness generally eased off around the fourth month? How far along was J'len, anyway?

J'len protesting that Bereck was ill pulled him out of his thoughts. He'd been ill? J'nes hadn't known. He seemed to have missed a lot of things lately. Only then did he notice that the healer seemed upset about something, registering the little hints in tone of voice and body language. What could have upset him? Without knowing that he couldn't try and make the healer feel at ease, so he was at a bit of a loss for what to say.

Then he noticed J'len glance at him, and when she moved to a different subject he guessed she might be having similar thoughts. He took her cue and said, "Yes, thank you indeed. You've certainly taken a weight off my mind." His relief and gratitude were plain on his face, though he resisted following with the comment. 'and added a few new ones.' Knowing what had ailed J'len was certainly welcome, but now he had to figure out what to do with a baby. Assuming J'len even wanted to keep it; another thing to talk to her about.

"No," J'len agreed with a shake of her head. "Hyweth rose and clutched, as you know--" Hyweth may have forgotten Berath's help, but she hadn't. Her expression darkened slightly, "Then we had that trouble with the eggs being stolen..." There had been no time to worry about pregnancy. "A baby was the least of our worries. I considered the possibility, after a while..."

She glanced at J'nes. It always seemed so new, their relationship. Should she have told him her suspicions? "I think it's something we'll have to talk about together," she said decisively. She didn't want to offend Bereck further by offering to aid him again. She flashed him a small smile. "Thank you again, Bereck, for coming."