Running Tests

Writers: April, Patrick, Rebecca, Rochelle
Date Posted: 1st July 2007

Characters: Cherlyn, J'ren, Aidiata, Eleada
Description: Cherlyn finds out whats wrong with her at the Infirmary.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 7 of Turn 4
Notes: Follows "Just Trust Us".

"Alright greenrider. We've run some tests and there's some good news and some bad news." the Healer told the group of people surrounding Cherlyn on the infirmary bed. "Would you care for the good news or the bad news first?"

Cherlyn looked to J'ren who was holding her hand on her left. "Which do you want to hear first? It's your baby too."

"The good." He had a feeling that he would need it for whatever was coming.

"Good then." Cherlyn told the healer. The healer hooked a stool with one foot and sat looking at his papers.

Eleada squeezed her shoulder encouragingly. She knew that tone of voice. The healers had used the same tone when she had been about to receive bad news when she was pregnant with Eleadan and Eleaxol.

"The good news is that I heard two distinct heartbeats. Congratulations greenrider you're having twins." His smile was bitter sweet. Before Cherlyn or her friends could react to the good news the healer put up a hand to stay them.

"The bad news is, your urine sample turned up a large amount of salts in your body. To much. You have a condition we call, 'Toxemia'. That means that your body is producing to much salts do to stress. The good news is that this kind can only occur when a woman is pregnant." The healer sighed. "The bad news is that left alone this can lead to birth defects."
He looked up at the mass of people surrounding the greenrider on her infirmary bed.

Cherlyn stared at the healer in disbelief. It wasn't possible. "What," she gulped to clear her throat.
"What kind of stress could cause this?"

"All kinds. If you had been having a single child this might not be a problem. But the physical stress on your body is affecting it. I'm sure Threadfall has something to do with it. I'm not a rider but I'm sure that it can be stressful." The riders in the group nodded.

"We're lucky. This was caught early enough that if you halt all undo stress, good and bad, your children will be fine." It was so odd for her to hear children.
"No more Threadfall, No strenuous activities, and I'm going to place you on bed rest for three days." The healer stood.

"I'll have it all written up so you may look it over."
He walked to the door. "I'll give you all a moment."
The door closed quietly behind him.

Eleada stared after the healer, and then down at her friend. Twins? Cherlyn was having _twins_? One was rough enough... "Oh, Cherlyn. I'm sorry. But at least they caught it early."

Cherlyn wiped her eyes and sniffed. "I'm fine. They said that everything would be fine." Her smile was very shaky. "Twins huh?" She turned to J'ren "Is your family known for twins?" She tried to make the words sound light, but only half succeeded.

"My father's side yeah, he had twin brothers." J'ren squeezed her hand, he had no idea what to say to her.

Cherlyn squeezed the hand back. If it hadn't been coupled with such a blow, the fact that she was having two children would have been wonderful. Still was wonderful. For once Cherlyn felt like the strong one.

"It's alright," She told J'ren. "The baby-babies will be fine. The healer said that as long as I'm careful we'll all pull out of this fine." She looked around at her friends downcast faces trying not to show her fear.

"And he's right. You will pull through. Because you will have all of us to be sure you heed his instructions. We will all take turns checking in on you and everything." Aidiata glanced around for support. "You know, you don't have to do this alone."
She smiled warmly down at her friend.

Eleada shifted her grip from Cherlyn's shoulder to her free hand, looking her in the eye. "And you're more than welcome to ask me anything, you know. In case you forgot, I do have twin boys."

Tears came to Cherlyn's eyes again, but this time they were of relief. "Thank you," she muttered, looking at all of them in gratitude. "You don't know how much that means to me."

"It's you I'm worried about." For the first time J'ren regretted being at River Bluff.

"Don't worry. We'll have Lueanth and Kenaranth in constant conversation, and I'll send you letters and you'll visit me on restdays, it'll be like you never leave here." Cherlyn smiled reassuringly and patted his hand.

"If you need anything, just ask, I'll be here as quick as I can."

Cherlyn squeezed his hand and kissed him lightly.
"Thats all I needed to hear."

Last updated on the July 1st 2007

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Running Tests