DESIRES: The Wait
"It wouldn't do to pretend that Eva's clinic was located on some sort of pretty little street." In fact it was right in the heart of the WestEnd, on a narrow street, shoulder to shoulder with some derelict buildings, across the street from a Wand-o-Wash." But that only made the clinic stand out more, with its clean windows, and clear sign reading "WestEnd Med.?" It was not much more than a store front, with a waiting area right up front and a secretarial area from which a hallway could be seen stretching towards the back with exam rooms on either side." A table to one side of the waiting area contained a pile of apples and bananas, as well as a canister of hot coffee with to-go cups." The occasional but steady opening and closing of the front door suggested that the word was out about the stash Eva kept there." But that morning, Eva was waiting at the front counter, wanting to spare her friend too much waiting time, and anticipating her appointment time.
???"Eless was dressed in simple jeans, sweater and plain wool cloak in an attempt not to draw so much attention as well as in hopes of reducing the discomfort any other waiting patients might have felt—a lifetime habit when one is an empath. Her already uncooperative tummy and nerves had made breakfast unappealing, so she arrived a few minutes earlier than she had promised Eva. She paused outside the door with a smile coming to her lips. She was very proud of Eva and how hard she had worked to get this far." The fact she helped so many people who otherwise would not receive any help made it all the better in her eyes." The petite elfess ducked inside the door during one of its swings open, eyes of blue flame searching the waiting area.
?"?"Eva pushed up from her lean at the front desk and smiled at the sight of her friend." She was dressed casually herself, but for the white lab coat that she wore." The lab coat, she had found, gave her authority in the clinic which she occasionally needed for unruly patients." She moved to meet Eless when she saw her slip in the door. "Eless. Good morning.?"She tipped her head towards the hall, indicating she should follow her, "Let's sit down for a minute."
????"Good morning!" she greeted cheerfully in spite of the nerves that continued to turn somersaults in her empty belly which gurgled in protest. ?"That doth sound like a good idea, " replied the petite elfess who was following her friend readily." She needed someone to take charge in her emotional chaos and confusion.
?"??"Can I get you something to drink?" Water?" Coffee?"" Eva offered as she opened a door near the front on the right hand side and held it for Eless to step inside." It wasn't an exam room, it was an office." The walls were a calm, cool gray, with some pleasant looking landscape scenes hanging on the wall facing the visitors" chairs." The furniture was inexpensive, probably used." Eva shut the door behind them to give them some privacy." And then she immediately turned for her friend, reaching out, her words quiet in offering a gentle hug for her friend. "Come here."
?""As soon as the door closed, Eless responded to outstretched arms and embraced Eva fiercely. There were faint, dusky crescents shadowing beneath the Empath's eyes and anyone who knew her well could see she had dropped a couple of kilos even on her slight frame. "Oh, thank heavens thou art here, Eva," the weight of her burden still evident in her hushed tones.
" "Always," she held her securely but gently, then finally let go." Eva gestured towards a chair. "Let's talk for a few minutes, okay?"
"Relief washed over the smaller woman and she sat down in the chair pointed out, finally taking a moment to glance around the place where Eva spent so many of her days and probably nights too.?"Aye, 'twould be wise." Her smile returned as she got settled into the seat.
???"Off to the side there was some sort of computer unit, but it was powered down or asleep, and kept discretely away." Eva settled across from her, "before we go further, I just want you to know that everything you say to me today is completely confidential." I won't repeat it to anyone, not even Mason, under any circumstances unless absolutely necessary for your health and safety, okay?"
?"?"Eless nodded when Eva reassured her about confidentiality. Even if her friend were not a doctor, she knew Eva would never betray her confidence. "Deal."
?""It was Eva's turn to nod, then she drew in a breath while watching her. "Let's talk as friends for a minute first, and then I'll be your doctor, okay??" She lowered her voice a bit, "tell me what?s going on, Eless."
?""Normally she had been reluctant to share any details of what had happened during her absence, but Eva put the Empath at ease. "When I was away for so long?" I had been captured." She began to pick at the hem of the cobalt blue sweater she had worn to ward of the winter's chill. "I was held against my will." Tortured by a dark demon, elf, demi-god mix. "I have healed from most of the physical torture, but the mental and emotional?" Eless shrugged a single shoulder before she continued, "That hath taken longer as hath my magic, but I believe my magic is nay gone. Tis as if "tis being stolen in a way."
?""Eva listened, quiet." Her jaw tightened for a moment." Eless could surely feel the part of Eva that wanted to lash out in anger, that anyone would dare hurt her friend, that anyone would dare hurt someone as kind and loving as Eless." But the feeling was there for just that moment, and then gone as Eva exhaled, replaced with deep concern. "And you think your magic is being stolen away by...." Eva trailed for a second, "by something I might be able to help you with?"
??"Eless nodded once again. "Aye, methinks a baby." She stared at the toes of her ankle boots, tiny hands wringing in her lap and she finally dared to lift her gaze to Eva." She whispered, ?"Tis nay Luke's."
???"Eva looked at Eless, and then she nodded slowly." She wasn't sure why she hadn't thought of it." It was obvious, of course." A baby." She drew in a breath." Another flare and pop of anger, then brought under control again as she exhaled. "The dark demon?" she asked quietly.
???"Eless" reply was barely above a whisper, "Aye, because Luke and I were nay intimate after my return." The blush that touched her paler than usual features was faint. She continued, "I can somewhat remember waking to hear Calonderial tell me he would gift me my greatest desire." Her brow furrowed as she attempted to recall what had transpired. She added quietly, "He did nay rape me. At least nay in that way."
" She frowned deeply, eyes looking down at her desk, so filled with worry and pain for her friend." She sat there a moment." Then she tried something she had never tried before." She breathed deep." She looked up at Eless." And she filled herself with love.?" She concentrated on all of the love and friendship and gratitude that she had ever felt towards Eless, and she filled herself with it, letting it warm her chest, letting it hum through her from her toes to the tips of her fingers, hoping that maybe if she filled herself up enough, it could blanket Eless too.
Eless" brow smoothed and her expression gentled when she sensed the love and comfort that radiated from her friend, "Thank thee.?" She stopped her hand wringing and met Eva's gaze unflinchingly adding, "Once I realized my magic had indeed returned and instead was being siphoned away, I had my suspicions." I never thought I could become pregnant after my miscarriage so many years ago as well as for other reasons."
"Eva nodded slowly, "Well, let's see what we can find out today, alright?" Then she quieted a bit, "Let's get some answers at least."
???"Aye, and then we shall know how to proceed after that."
" Eva nodded in agreement." Then she smiled a little, "Alright, you're gonna get the doctor now, okay?"" She reached out and dragged a pad of paper towards her and a pen so she could take notes, but she waited for Eless' agreement before beginning her questions.
The elfess chuckled softly, a verbal sign of her agreement that joined another head nod, "Ready."
"Eva smiled a little reassuring smile, and then she began." She asked the questions gently, but straight forward, taking notes of the answers on her pad of paper." When was her last menstrual cycle?" Was her cycle typically regular?" What was the cause of her prior miscarriage?" Had she had any other pregnancies?" What symptoms had she been feeling?" Nausea?" Loss of appetite?" Fatigue?" Anything else that she felt Eva should know"
After Eless answered all of the standard questions with their not-so-standard replies she added, "I do nay know if this doth help since thou art a non-mage user, but I do nay respond well to magical healing, but I do nay think that hath any import really with thee." ?"?"Eva nodded and wrote it down anyhow, but then she reassured her, "That's a last resort for someone like me." Then she shifted to her feet. "I'd like to do a physical exam now." I'm going to be drawing some blood to test for the pregnancy, but I'd also like to give you an overall health check if that's alright with you."
????"Oh, a health check is fine," She nodded docilely and then put on the brakes when the rest of Dr. Eva's statement sunk in. "Draw blood?"
"Eva raised a brow, standing at the door to her office but not opening it yet. "Yes." Is that a problem?"
?"Ummm...nay....I do nay believe so." Eless blinked a few times and drew a deep breath to fortify herself.?"The only times I have had blood taken from me hath usually nay be voluntary," she explained with a faint, wry chuckle.
?"I'll be gentle, I promise." She reached a hand to gently rest on Eless' shoulder." Then she opened the door and led her across the way towards an exam room.
" She followed her friend to the exam room with another blush touching her cheeks from her cowardice. "I know thou wilt be?. And she would not look! Eless swore silently!
" Eva opened a drawer and drew out a short (for most people) thin cotton robe and set it on the table." She explained quietly that Eless should remove her clothes and change into the robe." She gave her a place for her clothes, and then promised to come back in a few minutes." Then she left her, back out of the room to give Eless some privacy to change her clothes.
" Speed changing was a skill for the diminutive elfess; thus, Eless was into the robe with her clothes neatly folded probably before Eva even had gone five feet from the door." She perched on the edge of the table with her feet swinging in the air as she looked around at the foreign surroundings. "Hmmm..."
"Eva turned to shut the door behind herself, and then saw Eless waiting already changed." She chuckled softly, then stepped back in and shut the door behind herself." She washed her hands, then did the physical exam." It was pretty typical, with Eva taking her measurements, height and weight, checking her pulse, her blood pressure, her reflexes, making her little notes all along." When she touched Eless, she was gentle but clinical and professional, her role as doctor coming clearly and easily to her." And every step of the way, she explained what she was doing so Eless wouldn't be taken by surprise by anything. "Have you ever had your blood drawn by someone like me before?"
"Both Eva's confidence and competence was easily sensed by the Empath who relaxed during the exam, answering when needed. She then shook her head when Eva asked about the blood drawing. "Nay, I have not ever had my blood taken by a healer." Is it like a vaccination' I was accidentally, well purposefully by some, vaccinated when that fever went through RhyDin." Eless frowned deeply at the unpleasant memory.
"Eva nodded as she arranged the things she needed "Most likely, yes, I'm going to use a needle like that.?" I'll use the crook of your arm." You will feel a prick but it will be over fast.?" Then as an after -thought she added, "and you don't have to look." When she thought Eless was comfortable enough with the idea of it, she set up her tray, then gestured for Eless to look to her right while Eva positioned herself at her left arm." Again, Eva narrated as she tied the rubber tie around her upper left arm, then gave her a rubber ball to squeeze." Then she made small-talk to distract her. "Mason and I saw Lirssa at the Inn the other night."
?"Lil Bit' Really!"!" Eless squeezed the ball as directed and silently chided herself for being nervous. Really, after all she had been through a little needle and blood taken would scare her" But it was more the unfamiliar than any thought of pain that had made her nervous. "Oh, by the heavens!" It hath been forever since I have seen her!"
???"She's a young woman now. To be honest, I almost didn't recognize her.?" The little prick could not be avoided, but Eva was quick with it as promised, gently taking the ball from her hand, then releasing the tie to get what she needed.
?"I can only imagine!" The distraction worked and the prick was hardly noticeable. She looked at Eva, "Didst thou tell her thou and Mason wert wed?"
?"We did." Eva smiled as she finished, pressing a cotton ball to the spot, then leaving Eless with a little bit of gauze taped over the site. "You'll be able to remove this before you leave here," she explained quietly. She peeled off her gloves, and then smiled at Eless. "She teased us for waiting so long." Eva moved the tray with the tube of blood aside, and then looked at her friend. "I'm going to go check these out." It will just be a few minutes, and then we'll know." Okay?"
????"Of course she would have to tease over that!" She grinned and tried not to pick at the little bit of gauze and tape. "Aye, the sooner we know the better.? The next few minutes would be some of the longest in the Empath's life.
((Adapted from Live RP w/the amaaazing player behind Eva!))