RCW:: Escapee Child

Posted on Wed Nov 20th, 2024 @ 10:49pm by Jr Journeyman Terliyn & Jr Journeyman Marika & Sr Journeyman Nikolai

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: River Cove Weyr
Timeline: MD 2 D10

Nika quietly crept toward the infirmary. The little girl knew exactly where she was going and she wasn't going to be stopped. As she stepped inside she looked around, a smile on her face as she caught sight of who she had been looking for.

“Daddy!” She cried racing toward her father but being careful not to run into anyone.

Nikolai turned as he heard the familiar cry on autopilot. He had not expected to see the little girl awake as he was on midday shift so her appearance was nice and then he caught up. “Are you okay?” He demanded quickly.

Nika smiled before jumping into his arms and snuggling against his broad chest. “All good. Just wanted to see Daddy. Kensi sleeping and mommy working,” she commented as she had managed to sneak out of the creche.

The man hugged her close savouring the hug as they were few and far between some days with his hours on threadful days but he pulled back as he realised what she had done. Why did Nika and Ariana see it as a challenge for the drudges who worked in the creche? “You escaped creche?” The healer realised and winced now that he was an accessory to that fact.

The little girl nodded, clearly not repentant at all for it. “Wanted to see daddy. Mommy said you be home late. I see you now,” she answered as if it made perfect sense. Of course to her young mind it did.

“And cause the creche staff lots of worry. What if mummy had finished her shift and found you gone?” The man prompted wiggling her into his hip to at least carry on some of his tasks as they spoke. Marika would not be there for a long time but that did not mean the girl needed to know that when he was going to use this as a teaching moment.

Nika wrinkled her tiny nose. She of course hadn't thought about that. “She would come find you,” she grinned impishly. Surely Marika wouldn't really get off early. She just snuggled closer to her father.

“And be very upset.” He reminded her by pressing a kiss to her nose. Marika was a force of nature but even he knew when to get out of her way when something had gone wrong. “And neither of us wants to upset mummy.”

The little girl giggled but nodded. “No upset Mommy,” she grinned. “Still see Daddy.” She was a daddy's girl and loved being with him.

Nikolai frowned at the girl and set her on the cabinet as Terliyn came in and looked confused at the child being there. “I am not late getting Lea am I?” She asked, thinking that the baby she was growing inside of her was making her more and more forgetful as the days went on.

“No, I have an escapee,” Nikolai said looking over at his heavily pregnant friend. Terilyn smiled at the girl who did not at all look repentant in her actions or anything.

Nika swung her legs back and forth while she sat on the cabinet. “Terli!” She smiled, waving at her friend’s mom. “Come see Daddy.”

“I can see.” Terilyn smiled softly. “I think your dad is not impressed by it though kiddo.” Terliyn was relieved that Lea did not do anything like that but she also knew the little girl got to see herself and Talomin a bit more as she was a junior journeyman compared to her senior journeyman colleague. “Why don’t you go and find Marika and have a candle mark together?” She suggested thinking it might stop attempts in the future.

The little girl cocked her head to the side, much like her mother would do. “Why? Just see Daddy.” She clearly didn't understand why her dad was so upset. She had only wanted to see him.

Nikolai did not miss the look she gave them and resisted smiling at how much she looked like her mother when he did it. “Because people will worry. I would worry if Lea disappeared.” Terliyn explained as Nikolai processed her offer.

“Come on you. Let's go find your mother.” The healer declared picking her up off the cabinet trying to think where Marika would be at that time of day.

Nika wrinkled her nose as she thought about Terliyn’s words. It kind of made sense. “But no see daddy otherwise,” the little girl pointed out before Nikolai scooped her into his arms. She then started to giggle.

Terliyn understood that thought but sometimes it was what needed to happen. She shared a look with Nikolai but said nothing as he walked out of the infirmary and headed outside to where his animal healer wife would be. He started with the runner stables but she was not there before moving on to where the herdbeasts were. “Maybe mummy is here.” He said popping her down on her feet and taking her hand.

Nika kept quiet as she had who she wanted. She had found her father. Once he sat her on her feet she looked around for her mother. “Mommy?”

Marika was down with one of the herdbeasts who had just given birth. She looked over the stall. “Nika? Nikolai?”

The man smiled as he saw her and wandered over to where she was working. “Hey, love.” Nikolai greeted leaning over the stall to give her a quick kiss. “We have had an escape attempt from our tiniest and she turned up in the infirmary.”

Marika gladly accepted the kiss, not minding this surprise. Well until Nikolai told her the whole story. “Oh Nika,” she said as the little girl just grinned.

“I find daddy!” She said proudly.

“Yes you did but Daddy is not happy with it because you might get lost next time and mummy and daddy would be upset.” Nikolai reminded the little girl of the previous conversation around it.

The little girl dropped her head, knowing she had messed up. A tear slid down her cheek. “But I wanted Daddy.”

Marika cringed a bit as she let herself out of the stall. She knew how Nika felt but there were some things they just couldn't have all the time.

“And I wanted to be with you sweetheart but sometimes I have on different shifts preparing for threadful.” He said reminding her of why sometimes things were different. He offered a sad smile to the woman but he knew the little girl well enough to know she knew this any child did who grew up in the Weyr.

Marika sighed softly. She had to admit there were times she wanted to do the same thing as Nika just did. Especially If he was on the night shift. Different shifts were hard.

Nika sniffled. “No like different shifts,” she grumbled, tears still sliding down her cheeks.

“Me either. I want to be there to cuddle you both and kiss you goodnight.” Nikolai said gently leaning over to wrap an arm around his wife bringing her close to him now caring about the muck or hay on her. He pressed a kiss to her temple.

Marika chuckled and leaned against his side. Nika looked at her father. “Miss you,” she whispered. Marika bit her lip. She knew that feeling.

“I am sorry.” The man said bringing Nika close as he tried to keep his emotions in check as he noticed the look on her face. “I had not realised how bad this month had been.” he murmured frowning at himself for not having noticed which made him sad as he never wanted that.

Marika squeezed her husband's arm. “It's just been a hard month but we're okay,” she promised him. “Nika is just missing her daddy time.” Marika knew he couldn't change that. He was a Healer and had an obligation to the Weyr. Nika buried her face in her father's shoulder.

Nikolai sighed softly and kissed Nika and snuggled her close wishing he had words to help but it was his presence that she needed and it sounded like his wife needed it too. “We could leave the Weyr.” He offered. “But Riklan is the same.” He knew that Riklan and Theeressa had struggled with similar things.

Marika shook her head quickly. “No, this is our home. We're all okay. You mister just have three girls missing your hunky presence,” she grinned, kissing his cheek.

“Ewe!” Nika cried, scrunching her nose as she watched her parents.

Nikolai kissed his daughter's cheek too. “Hunky presence?” He repeated back to her before leaning over to give Marika a proper kiss if their daughter was going to complain. “I am on mid-shift today. I can’t do bedtime for the girls but I can for you.” He assured brushing stray hairs out of her face.

Nika giggled at her father’s kiss on her cheek before wrinkling her nose again when he kissed Marika.

“Very hunky,” Marika laughed as she leaned into his kiss. She smiled up at him. “Is that so? Well then I look forward to it,” she whispered.

“Mmmhmm,” Nikolai murmured thinking that he was going to make sure that he got out on time no matter what. Thalia was on nights and she normally was eager and happy to let him escape as soon as possible. “But it leaves us to deal with this one.” He sighed not knowing what to do about Nika and her escape from crèche.

Marika definitely liked the sound of that. There were times they didn't get much time together. The young woman sighed softly. “That is true. What shall we do with our little escapee?”

Nika looked up. “Only find daddy!” She argued.

Nikolai knew she had only wanted to find him but something could have happened between the creche and the infirmary. There was so much space between them though he was impressed with her skills he did not like how dangerous it was. “I think seeing she was so desperate to see me she can spend the afternoon wrapping bandages and helping me prepare numbweed packs.” He declared looking at Marika to check that it was okay with her.

Marika nodded her agreement. “Numbweed smells funny,” Nika protested. “But be with daddy.”

“Can you come and get her for dinner?” He checked. “I’ll let the creche workers know too and try and calm down any alerts that have been sounded by this one's presence having been noticed as missing..” He added hoping there had not been too many alarms once they had checked the infirmary.

“Of course.” She kissed Nika's cheek. “You be good for daddy. I'll be back later.” She gave Nikolai a kiss too.

Nika giggled and hugged her dad.
“You won’t be so happy once I’ve got you folding bandages little one.” Nikolai declared smiling at Marika as he started back towards the Weyr properly. How did he get so lucky in life to have a perfect family and not to have to live in a Hold or Cot Hold? He had been more than willing but the mere thought had filled him with dread at all the rules and being closer than he wanted to Harper Hall.