Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in Three Isn’t A Crowd If You Don’t Want It To Be

Posted by Civilian Yavia Crockett (Nurse - Sacred Heart Hospital) in Three Isn’t A Crowd If You Don’t Want It To Be

Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in Three Isn’t A Crowd If You Don’t Want It To Be
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻

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The only sound for hours was the sound of breath moving in and out, sometimes in rhythm, sometimes not, and the soft rustle of sleeping bodies moving against cotton sheets.

Into that peace and silence the storm came, howling and crashing, the demon demanding its due. Sharah moaned, more like a muffled cry, full of pain and fear. She tossed, curling into herself, the soft rhythm of her breath turning harsh and rapid. She tossed, turning over again, and in her sleep her hands covered her ears, but it had no effect on the noise. Her eyes snapped open in the dark, she was disoriented and hurting. The storm screamed and raged at her, making it impossi le to thi k and even breathe. Her stomach heaved and revolted at the sudden intense throbbing in her head. She couldn’t think enough to call for either of them. She tasted tears between gulps of air. She dragged herself to the edge of the bed, pushing and fighting away from the tangle of limbs. She practically rolled and dropped to the floor. She stumbled as she tripped on discarded blankets into the bathroom where she was violently sick.

Sharah

It wasn’t even a minute before there was a hand on her back and another pulling back her hair. “Easy, hun… came back quick, huh?” Charles said softly. He rubbed her back gently. As usual, his thoughts were unguarded. He was concerned, but not surprised. And he definitely wasn’t scared. He was just there… a firm point in the chaos raging around her. “Maybe you should drink. If you’re gonna have the hangover, might as well have the fun ‘afore hand.” and he smiled at her, his hand still rubbing gentle circles on her back.

Tenkiller

Yavia was right behind him, looking slightly ill herself. She wasn’t, but that was a side effect of being so connected with someone else. Sharah’s sudden distress had woken her just as suddenly. She took a moment to breath and regulate what she was sensing and then she moved toward the towels and took down a couple of clothes and soaked them in the sink. She wrung them out and then sat on Sharah’s other side, gently wiping her face. She put an arm around her waist as Sharah was sick again. She looked across her at TK, the turmoil Sharah was feeling reflected on Yavia’s features along with concern. There was no fear, but there was frustration that she didn’t know how to help Sharah. She couldn’t even take her pain away. Yavia was easy for Sharah to read, but she didn’t force it, she was just there a second anchor in the storm.

Yavia

Chaos and deafening sound and her rebellious stomach were all Sharah was aware of at first. She wasn’t drifting with it, she was fighting with it, meaning there was no attempt to recognize snippets of thoughts or hints of emotions or even choose to relegate them to background noise. Then there was a point of clarity - Charles a solid warm point anchoring her, holding onto her. And then another - Yavia reminding her to breathe instead of hold her breath, helping her right herself. Sharah was reacting out of fear rather than responding with calm and thought. She was making it worse on herself. She moaned in warning before her stomach rebelled one last time to the sudden intensity. She wilted back against him. She whimpered, her hands came up to rub at her temples. She didn’t yank on her hair or claw at her scalp, like she had when she was a child and she was desperate to make the noise stop. She turned into him, seeking Yavia’s hand, keeping her close too, while she breathed heavily. The whole thing only lasted a couple of minutes.

Each breath gave another crystal like facet of focus to her awareness. Sharah realized several things as she breathed. The first that Charles and Yavia were both there. She wasn’t on her own, and they were worried. She squeezed both their hands. Second that her stomach hurt and so did her head, probably more from vomiting than her telepathy, and her mouth was nasty. Third the floor was cold and for once she wasn’t. Fourth was that it was over…whatever it was. The last time this had happened it had taken much much longer before things settled. She was curious as to how. The why was obvious…or at the moment it seemed obvious to her. Finally, she was okay. Actually she was probably better than okay. She was caught by surprise, but she lived with this every day, this was no different.

She cleared her throat, “Charles?”

“Next time you decide to back me into a psychological corner and make me ‘let go’…I wanna be awake when it turns back on.”

Sharah

Charles sighed a bit and a pang of guilt struck him. “You got it, Sharah. I… I’m sorry. I didn’t think ahead. You ok?” he asked.

His guilt tugged at her. It would never not be that way. One hand cupped his face and the other threaded into his hair. She stared up into his eyes. She was tired, they all were, it was the middle of the night or just too early, either way, but she could give him this. Her voice sound quite clearly in his head. Before she had been hesitant and he could feel it in the contact, and she couldn’t stop her worry even now, but it came from a place of care and love. This time it was seamless, soft instead of raw edges. It played along his circle, from that connection. It was her but it was also him, it was all of them. ‘Charles, don’t be sorry. Please? You did what you knew was best for me, for all of us. Don’t ever be sorry for that.’ She searched his eyes. She wasn’t going to kiss him, not till she’d cleaned up a bit, but he suddenly felt like she was. It was tender and warm and incandescently happy. Then she spoke. “There was no way to know what would happen. You couldn’t think ahead. This is the second time this has happened, and now we know, right? Now we know I can manage when I’m awake and aware. I’m not okay. That implies the status quo, and actually I think I’m better than okay.” Her thoughts brushed his again, ‘Please don’t be sorry for showing me I’m safe.’ There was a depthless meaning to the word and an equal amount of love and gratitude as well.

Sharah

He stood up and offered her and V a hand. “Let’s gety’all up off that floor, ok? And get ya cleaned up a bit.”

Tenkiller

Yavia took his hand and hugged him warmly before rinsing the cloth out in the sink. She gave Sharah a glass of water to rinse her mouth and then disappeared briefly and returned with her toothbrush. “Our room, right? Just leave it in here.” She ran a hand down Sharah’s back and then slipped an arm around TK’s waist and squeezed as she looked up at him. “We’re okay. Are you?”

Yavia

He nodded and said “Yeah, I’m ok.” And he was. Sharah’s word had made their point, and he was not one to dwell. At least, not often. “Why don’t we all get cleaned up, maybe take a hot bath, go back to bed and relax for a bit? I’m not in the mood to start the day quite yet.”

Tenkiller

Yavia walked over and turned the water on and then pressing the stone on the wall pulled out the botanical blend that smelled like wood smoke and night. She sprinkled them into the hot water water. “You two clean up and get in the water. I’ll be right back.” She kissed them both on the cheek and slipped out the door.

Sharah nodded and gave Yavia a little smile. She felt bad, her request hadn’t meant to make him feel guilty, but to…tell them what she needed, and she knew if she told him he wouldn’t forget. She hadn’t thought about it either, that it might hit her worse if she was asleep. Now they knew. She didn’t mean to upset him though. He said he was okay, and he was. She brushed her teeth and rinsed her mouth and cleaned herself up. Her throat ached some as did her abdomen, but it wasn’t horrible and not unexpected.

She walked over to him and kissed him, letting the contact convey how much he meant to her. She tugged his hand, “I love you.” She backed up, stepping into the water. “Come on. I have a need to hold you both and let you hold me.”

She returned and sat down on the edge of the tub, with a small tray and 3 glasses. She handed TK a glass with an amber liquid over ice, and Sharah some type of orange-red tropical looking thing. “I know you don’t drink, but it’s not a lot. It will take the edge off the soreness and it’s just us here.” Then she slid down into the water, holding a glass of champagne, with TK between them.

Yavia

Sharah nodded and took the glass from Yavia and sipped it carefully, seeing how her stomach reacted. Her stomach didn’t protest so she went ahead and took a good sip of it. Then she set the glass on the side of the tub and reached across him to take Yavia’s hand and his.

Sharah

Charles took the drink, took a healthy sip, and then slid down into the water between the two women. There, surrounded by water and their presence, he eased his mind and exhaled slowly. “House rule. We do this at least three times a week.” he said softly.

Tenkiller

Yavia lifted her glass to her lips, letting the bubbles tickle her nose before she drank. She set the glass aside, letting Sharah take her hand. It was bit like a human pretzel. Her arm crossed her body so it rested over TK’s hand on her hip. Sharah slipped her hand under his so that the two women were holding his hand between them. Yavia turned so she pressed close against his side, one leg half draped over his, her other arm resting against him, her palm over his heart. She kissed his shoulder before she settled into the heat. “Agreed. Just know that I fully intend to indulge and make use of the baths everyday. You are both always welcome to join me.” Then gently swirling up around them was that wonderful acceptance of their connection together but also as individuals, bright joyful love, and their identity and place within the circle - the Deltan ‘I love you.’ She squeezed her hand around theirs. “I love you both very much. I didn’t know this was what I needed, but now that I have it, I never will let go.” She kissed them both, in a way that savored each uniqueness and conveyed the tenderness she felt.

Yavia

“Back at ya, gorgeous.” Tenkiller said with a smile. He closed his eyes laid his head back, letting the heat of the water soak into him. “Mmmm… I don’t know how I ever managed to enjoy this without the both of ya here.” and he chuckled. “Although the shower is pretty damn sweet too, I gotta say.”

Tenkiller

Sharah’s other hand was moving softly over his side and back, lazily. “The shower is massive and indulgent.” Sharah grinned, “It’s a good place to be nekkid.” She turned, so she was laying agaist his side and gave Yavia a wicked grin. “House rule…” she stretched up just a little placing a not so chaste kiss on his lips, “Charles has to wear the hat to bed every night.”

Yavia laughed and shook her head, “Sharah I think you’re addicted.”

“Mmmhmmm…I am sure you’re right.”

Sharah