by Jariel Camen
81109.2000
After Beyond Belief
-=Takesian Plains, Bajor=-
81109.2000
After Beyond Belief
-=Takesian Plains, Bajor=-
He could have stayed like this forever. Holding Fleur so close brought a sense of comfort and relief to him that he simply could not describe.
He had expected the feel of Fleur in his arms to fill him with peace, but what he had not expected was how young Tress had completely disarmed him. Like so many children of Bajor she had lost so much but still had everything to give.
However, even as he reveled holding Fleur close and knowing Tress was nearby, his comfort was shattered by the impending crisis in Altaan. Even seeing Tress now brought fear to his soul, as he saw her skin burning red with the growing fever.
Each one of Fleur’s tears was like a dagger to him as well. Things had been progressing so well in the Plains, and in Camen’s heart, recently. Now another crisis was upon them, and the love rekindling between Fleur and Camen would have to be set aside. Or, perhaps, this was another chance for them to fall even more deeply in love, as they watched each other selflessly serve the children on Bajor in the coming days.
Fleur had already made her intentions clear. She would not let Camen out of her sight once he left for Altaan. He had protested as a knee jerk reaction, but the fact remained she was immune to the fever, and Camen honestly did not want her out of his sight, either. For more reasons than one.
He cared for the children of Altaan, and Timal so deeply. Camen would need her strength at his side to guide him through difficult times ahead.
“You must eat now,” she said finally.
Camen sat down at the table, and waited for her to dish out a bowl of soup.
“What’s that?” He asked, seeing the letter he himself had written folded up on the table.
“Oh, zat? Just a list of some supplies I was needing.”
Camen reached out for the letter. “Oh, let me read it. I can pull some strings to get you what you need.”
“Non!” Fleur reached out and snatched the letter away. Camen’s eyes grew wide with curiosity at her overzealous reaction. “Sorry, it is, not complete yet, and I’m not sure I will be needing these things anyway.”
She slipped the letter into a pocket on her clothing, and set his bowl of soup down. Camen slowly poked at it with his spoon for a moment.
“Is it all right?” Fleur asked.
“It is wonderful, I just feel guilty not sharing it with Timal and the others,” Camen said.
He took a sip of broth, and could not help but give an “Mmm,” to the taste. There was nothing quite like the taste of her soup.
“Soon enough, we will be sharing with Altaan.” Fleur said.
Camen wished he could go there right away but he simply could not risk interacting with any other Bajorans between here and there. The only safe way to get to Altaan was through the Federation vessel, where he could transport without risking exposing himself to any fellow Bajorans.
The wait would be unbearable, he knew, for time always passed slowly when one wished they were helping those in need. Unfortunately there was no way to speed up the process. If he went to the transport hub now, he would expose himself to the operator, who in turn would spread the virus to his family. From there it would go through the schools, and to all the children’s families.
Soon a relatively well-contained virus would spread across all of Bajor, and turn into a pandemic.
Camen finished his soup, and lifted Tress into his arms. He could almost feel the change in temperature of her skin as he held her, and the fever increased. Tress made a simple sign to him.
[[Cold.]]
She tugged at his clothing, attempting to wrap herself in his sleeve. He was no doctor but he knew it was a terrible thing when one as hot as Tress complained of being cold. She was too young to understand what was happening to her as Camen did. But even he, as a grown adult, presented a challenge to Fleur when she tried to feed him and get him to drink.
“Do we have a clean washcloth?” Camen asked.
“Of course,” Fleur fetched one, and soaked it with water. Camen sat at the table, cradling Tress, as Fleur twisted the cloth to try and drip a few drops of water in Tress’s mouth.
“Mmm!” Tress protested, pushing the cloth away.
“Non, mon petite fille. You need water.” Fleur gently tickled the girl’s stomach, until she got a giggle. She then twisted the cloth and dripped water in Tress’s unsuspecting mouth.
Camen could not help but laugh, as Tress, realizing she had been had, clenched her mouth shut.
“So gentle,” Camen commented. “I find it almost impossible to believe you’ve never been a mother before.”
“I learned things by watching Brigitte all those years. Watching only, she did not afford me the same care that she did the others.” Fleur’s voice was resolute rather than sad as she spoke of the woman she had believed was her mother for so long.
“When one has a fever as bad as this you must keep them hydrated any way you can. Wet cloths, ice chips, glasses of water. Anything they will take. I would help care for my 'siblings' when they were ill. I had to grow up very fast, and learn life skills at such a young age. So, it is not inaccurate to say I did have some mothering skills.”
Camen took the cloth from her, so Fleur could take her own bowl of soup to eat.
[[Cold.]] Tress complained again.
Camen found a small blanket, and wrapped her up in it.
[[Blanket.]] He signed, and then tugged on the wrap for emphasis. He made the motion several more times, before Tress mimicked him, and pulled on the blanket herself
“Good girl.”
“And how is it you do this, eh, never having been a father?” Fleur asked.
“Like you I was surrounded by many children in my younger years, and had to grow up very fast. The orphanage is not kind to those who do not learn to care for themselves, or others. I could never help wishing to lend a helping hand to those younger and less fortunate than me. That has always been in my nature.”
Camen held Tress in one arm, and ladled himself a second bowl of soup with his free hand.
“We should talk about what we will need when we go to Altaan.” Fleur said.
“We’ll need many clean cloths for washing, clean bedding to replace contaminated sheets. Plastic or paper cups for dispensing clean water. Basically we need to be able to replace everything we bring in with new. Hopefully the Federation will share its replicators with us to provide the supplies, because there is no telling what if anything we can get from Bajor. Especially if the fever spreads.”
Camen rubbed his finger over the ridges on his nose.
“Mostly what you need is rest to prepare,” Fleur observed. “There will be little asleep ahead.”
“You know, Fleur, there is so much to be done in the Plains. There is no reason you need to come along as well. You have already done so much, no one will think less of you if you stay here and continue to work with the people of the Plains,” Camen said.
“I promised I would not leave you side, Camen. Maybe no one else would think less of me, but I would.”
Young Tress had drifted off to sleep as Camen cradled her in his arm. He set the child down to sleep, and she groaned softly, as she rested. Her sleep would be very unsettled and that meant Camen and Fleur’s would be as well. There was simply nothing that could be done now but to watch over her and hope the fever broke quickly.
“Fleur,” Camen began, as he watched Tress sleep. “Pace is still a very young man, and he has aspirations to possibly join the Vedek Assembly in the future. He is not ready for the responsibilities of fatherhood.”
“I would agree. His potential is limitless. He is a such a bright young man.”
“I was wondering if perhaps I should devote more time to caring for Tress, at least until some permanent arrangement can be made. The child seems to have taken to me.” Camen turned towards Fleur, “And to you as well.”
Fleur opened her mouth to speak, but Camen continued. “Of course, I don’t intend to volunteer you for motherhood, I’m just saying I think it would be good for Tress and Pace both if she had a steady adult influence, and he had the chance to focus on his studies without being worried about who is caring for his sister. Pace deserves every chance to flourish from adolescence into adulthood like his peers.”
“When the time comes, Pace can raise her himself if he chooses, or see that she is placed with a willing family.” There was a third option Camen considered but did not say right now. That being that the time may also come when, if Camen and Fleur move into a committed relationship, that Tress becomes a part of their family permanently.
“I believe that is an acceptable arrangement Camen. We will have to discuss it with Pace of course, once these events with the fever calm down.”
Jariel Camen
On Bajor
On Bajor