homeless_pard | Later...home

Entry tags:

jason au,
starter

Later...home

Who: Khem, Jason
When: Home from WW.
What: Hello pregnancy?

She woke, smiling; how could she not? She was home, in her own bed in the rooms above the shop and her husband was beside her, hair honey in the light that leaked past the curtain. He worked late, so she oft woke before he did, with much to do in this world. Shops were open during the day after all and she had been away some time. Like they'd be short of many key items and no few medicines for her regulars. It felt wonderful to be back in the place she had made for herself honestly. She trusted her high lord to handle the horses that had come with them, and to look upon the grander view of their realm. She had...here.

Here and a husband and it was a wonderful thing. She kissed him gently before slipping from the bed. No matter they'd been months and months upon the search for her anchors in her old world and coming back to the gate, the wonder that was wedded life hadn't faded in the least for her. Her lord, her Jason, had chosen to cleave unto her. She had only to share him with her sworn high lord, a fealty as ingrained and accepted as breathing. Her Jason wouldst ever look for the feeling of the high lord's fangs, and betimes his bed. But otherwise he was hers and she wouldst never time of that fact.

Her bed. Their bed. It was enough to bring heat to her cheeks as she slipped down the stairs to the living quarters above the shop and set her kettle to brewing. Skilled was a mild term to apply to her love honestly. Heated mayhap, eager to share his knowledge...

...skill...

...she poured her morning tea without truly realizing, and lifted the cup to her lips when her talisman of Gunnora flared hot, truly burning and sharp against her chest. She yelped and dropped the cup, cup shattering on the floor as she bent forward to get the molten feeling gem off her skin. Ouch ouch ouch...she looked down at the mark on her chest, bewildered, then turned to go downstairs further to the greenhouse. A burn ointment, best to keep this...mild...and then he was staring at the mark for a moment, considering. What, and why?

What and why indeed?

How long had...her tea was not harmful unless...

...when had she last had a cycle?

She blinked, considering amongst the waving greenery in the glass house.

Unless she was three months in.

Almost on cue with the realization there was roil of mild nausea, she winced and fled back upstairs.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh dear.

She wiped her mouth and brushed her teeth, eyes large and dark in the mirror when she dared glance. She had to go...wake Jason. Right now. Yes. Wake him and apologize.

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He stopped and looked around him, then absently grabbed a travel mug and started prepping a cup of coffee to go. All the while grumbling softly to himself over Lillian's comment. He turned suddenly, "She doesn't have a bunch of people there now, does she? Lillian," he called out, "is it busy? Should we wait?"

He could hear her tinny response from the phone's speaker. "You'll be fine. Anyone curious we just say Khemrys is checking in; she does work here, Jason. Just...drive carefully."

"And I will be checking on the injured," she assured Jason, so there was no lie it what Lillian had said! "Thank you Dame, we will be there soon. I am going to hang up now." She thought it very rude to not say when she was doing so!

Once hung up and the phone back in it's pouch, she turned to put her shoes on and watch her husband. How could she not? He was fretting at a cup of coffee!

It wasn't his fault, the creamer spilled and then the lid wouldn't secure. All the coffee's fault...

He grabbed the cup and took a step forward, only to stop and check his pockets and turn back to grab his wallet and keys. "You ready?" he asked almost breathlessly.

She tied her last lace then smiled, coming to take his arm (and maybe double check that lid for him), "Yes my Jason. You are pale, please breathe a bit more normally?" She had faith in him!

He gave her a weak smile, squeezing his arm around her hand. "Trying," he promised quietly.

At least he was indeed driving carefully; his eyes a little too wide and fixated on the road, hands a little too tight on the wheel. But his breathing was at least a little closer to normal: she could easily hear it because he hadn't even turned on the radio.

"My Jason....we will not shatter," she noted partway there. She wasn't even clutching the seatbelt, just holding his free hand and playing with his fingers idly. He was more worrisome than the moving vehicle, imagine that!

Somehow, defying all possibility, he grew paler.

At least it wasn't a long drive to the clinic...

When they parked, Lillian had already stepped outside to greet Khemrys with a casual, "So glad to have you back: some of our newest patients could really use your insight." She noticed Jason getting out of the car and shook her head. "Get control if you don't want to broadcast, Jason."

He swallowed and fought to pull himself together.

Edited 2024-02-25 05:03 (UTC)

Khemrys moved around the car as a matter of course to cradle Jason's face, looking at him worriedly, "my Jason will you be alright if I step inside?" Because she would wait if he wanted her too. Absolutely.

"I will be in soon Dame, if you wish to wait on me might you tell me of the newest to come here?"

It was slow, but he was gradually pulling his face together. "It's ok," he said, his voice cracking once. "I'm coming. You two go ahead and talk though."

And hey, maybe if those two were busy enough talking shop, anyone who might pass by would think he had just had a long night at the Circus and hadn't slept yet.

She nodded, tracing her thumb over his lips then drew a deep breath herself before stepping over to Lillian, "alright, and how many new have arrived?" She would have to check her supply of the herbals that actually aided the shifters of this world, likely the clinic was running low.

Jason followed behind, not really registering any of their conversation. This was all still so very surreal. Even following Khemrys and Lillian through the clinic felt strange, as if he was watching through a funhouse mirror.

When they got to the room, he dropped immediately into a chair.

"Jason," Lillian said calmly, her tone warning him to calm himself. "I'm going to get you a Gatorade. Khemrys, I have tea made if you would like some."

"I will happily accept a cup," she agreed easily, settling next to Jason. "I believe people worried at your state my Jason..." it was a rather a worrisome appearance now honestly.

Perhaps she should have taken the bus on her own?

"I'm sorry," he murmured. Deep, slow breaths... He reached out and clutched her hand, thumbs moving desperately over her skin. "I meant to be...better."

Lillian was back quickly, setting a cup of tea down for Khemrys and pressing the Gatorade bottle into Jason's hands. "Drink. No one is around right now, so why don't you two fill me in: I'm assuming you've already taken a home test? When was your last cycle, Khemrys?" She was already setting various things on the little table as she spoke.

Jason took a long gulp of his drink and tried not to choke.

"You just need to be you my Jason, I am just worried that I may have hurt you..." he was certainly acting like he was damaged. Massively at that!

Ah, "my cycle is oft erratic upon return from my world, as time is so vastly different," she sighed. "I didst not expect one for another several weeks yet. Today I made my tea as normal but Gunnora's charm burned me, and so my Jason got a home test yes."

He just kept shaking his head. "You haven't done anything to me, Khem," he said softly.

Lillian raised her brow at Khemrys's description. "I feel I know you well enough to know that Gunnora's charm burning you is no small sign." She was actually impressed that Jason had had the presence of mind to go and get her a home test, but she kept that to herself: the poor boy was pale enough.

"I'll have you do another urine test here. Since we don't really have a decent guess on how far along you are, I can do an ultrasound and we can get a better idea, but I have to admit that I don't have a lot of experience with obstetrics, at least not further along."

"No small sign," she agreed wryly, shifting the collar of her shirt so Lillian could see the salved burn. "And my tea grows harmful to a child around a season in so between two and four months here?" So that was the guess to work on from there?

Another test it was then. "If you wouldst prefer I might ask at the college instead?" The people there were kind and likely there were midwives in training there She had not thought to ask when getting her basics to earn the shop license!

Lillian spared a glance at Jason. "If there is someone you trust, then of course. But let's make ourselves certain before worrying about all of that, hmm?"

She ushered Khemrys to the small, adjoining bathroom and closed the door. "Breathe, Jason," she reminded him.

"Lillian," Jason started in a helpless whisper. "Can we trust anyone else? If she is, what if there are complications? Or...I'm outed, so..."

"We're testing now, Jason. You have plenty of time before jumping into 'what-if's', so just...calm yourself."

Khemry rested her head against the cool tile wall in the bathroom for a long moment, knowing that Lillian no doubt needed a few moments to speak with Jason. Perhaps the Dame would be more reassuring than she had been?

Or firmer.

One or the other.

And then yes once more with the rather embarrassing test method. Feh. "None that I wouldst know of," she admitted when she came out again finally. "But I'd not wish to strain you either shouldst it come to such."

Lillian turned back from Jason with a comforting smile. "Don't worry too much about it: I've treated a few young women through the early months. I'll put some feelers out: I think I know someone I used to work with that moved into midwifery."

She gestured Khemrys towards her exam table before turning and fiddling with the testing cup and strips. "Let me get everything set up for an ultrasound and then we should have a result. Jason, you can move your chair closer."

Not so much an offer than a command, so Jason nervously slid his chair up next to Khemrys.

"Khemrys, I need your belly exposed; there are some drapes in that drawer next to Jason."

Ah, she was...just wearing a slip on dress over her chemise wasn't she? She flushed and stepped behind Jason to slip from said dress and poked him gently to find her a a drape? "This is the machine which was used to aid me in finding the pieces of silver that one time?" A bullet had shattered and she had trouble finding all bits before healing could be done!

It was still a rather intimidating machine but if she had at least seen it in action before...

...that might help?

Jason reached down into the drawer and turn slightly, holding the drape up for her to stand behind until she was ready to take it. He didn't notice her flush so much as expect it: his eyes were back on her belly.

"That's the one," Lillian answered. "But people usually find them a lot more exciting in these instances."

She appreciated curtain as it were, as she had to shed even her shift for this and she was STILL not overly fond of showing so much skin thank you. When she was clad in the gown rather than hiding behind it she threaded hands into Jason's hair, smiling gently, "my Jason, staring will not grant you an answer here..." she teased gently before settling on the table for Lillian.

"Ah, yes, mayhap exciting? It seems it wouldst be a point of...great conversation amongst all we know."

Her hands in his hair distracted him for a moment and he turned to press his cheek against her arm. "Sorry," he mumbled absently.

"Well yes, that too," Lillian chuckled, "But more for the parents-to-be: it's usually the first look most get of their baby."

Or Only look. Jason and Lillian both knew that well enough, and well enough to not say it aloud.

As she finished getting the ultrasound set up, she glanced once more at her work station and turned to the pair with a small smile. "Positive result on the urine test. Congratulations." She ignored Jason's pale expression and leaned in to squeeze some gel onto Khemrys's belly. "Sorry if it's a little cold."

"I have never feared such," she admitted quietly. "But seeing a child before it is born, yes that will be new..." she admitted, taking Jason's hands and squeezing them rather tightly. She could sense his tension.

And his worry. ANYONE could sense his worry with him paling like that honestly!

"Gunnora will like wish to speak with...any who are saddened by this." No, Jason could not have his hands back. She was SOUNDING calm for his sake, but well. Some nerves still certainly. And the gel was cold.

Lillian paused and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Don't you worry about that, Khemrys. I'm sure everyone will be more happy for the two of you than sad for themselves. Ok? Ok, let's take a look." She pressed the probe low on Khemrys's abdomen, shifting the angle as she watched the screen. Jason...had no idea what they were even looking at: it was just grey fuzzy static.

Lillian clicked a few keys on her keyboard. "See here?" she smiled, moving the pointer on the computer screen over the grainy image that began taking shape. Supposedly. "Here's the baby's head, this is the spine, and that little speck there is a foot..."

Jason...didn't faint. Or go paler (if that was even possible). But there was a soft inhalation as he stared slightly open-mouthed.

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