milliways_bar | (no subject)

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In one corner of the bar is Shufti, with Jack on her knee, showing him some pictures.

"And on the big day, I'll wear a long white dress, and you and Dada will have suits I expect. And then we walk down the middle of the guests and say some special words in front of everyone. And Dada will say some extra words to say that he'll look after you too."

Jack points at the picture. Shufti smiles. "That's a cake. Can you say cake?"

"Tay" Jack replies, then points at something else. "Baa?"

"That's a sheep love, we won't be having one of those. I don't think."

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"Sheep at a wedding tend to be a problem" a soft voice agreed nearby. The women the voice belonged to wasn't long in appearing, a red headed, tired looking woman with a security badge.

"Sorry to interrupt...but are you Shufti and Jack?"

She glances up.

"Yes, I'm Shufti, this is Jack." She spots the badge. "Are you arresting me? Because he grabbed me first and it was in the corridor and all I did was kick him in the nadgers and give him a face full of flour."

"No, I'm not arresting you" she chuckled, a warm, oddly soothing sound. "And if he deserved a good solid kick, good going"

She offered a hand "Alex actually mentioned you to me, mentioned a jerk of non-father and nightmares Jack's having? I might be able to help with that..."

A shy grin. "Thanks."

She shakes the hand, but looks a little apprehensive.

"That's very thoughtful of you both. How do you mean? Are you a psychicologist? Because the doctors said he wouldn't be able to try that until he could talk more."

Her grip was firm and reassuring as she sank down to sit on the floor near the pair "No, I'm not a psychologist. I'm a telepath, someone who can read thoughts and emotions..." she wasn't sure how much that would mean to the woman, but she was nothing if not honest.

"What I could do for Jack, if you and he wish, is to blunt the edges of the memory of the attack, not the details, just the immediacy, drain away a bit of the fear. He wouldn't forget, but it wouldn't make him wake up at night..."

She understands that and nods.

"What would you have to do? Would it hurt him or affect him any other way?"

"Well, I'd have to talk to him, get his permission, and no. It won't hurt or otherwise affect him. I can draw you into the mental link, to watch as I work, oversee...if it'll be a comfort?" she offered simply.

If Knox hadn't warned her that he had asked a friend's help, she would probably have been too worried to let the stranger interfere with her baby's mind. But she trusts Knox.

She nods. "Okay, thanks. I just want him to be okay. I'm not sure he understands enough to give permission though, I mean he only knows six words."

"When there aren't enough words, you ask with emotions, and colors and images especially with babies..." she smiled softly. "I simply won't touch any mind without permission..." on purpose and with any intent at any rate.

Then she held out her hand to Shufti "Shall we ask him?"

Half-scared, half-fascinated, she nods and takes Rachel's hand.

Jack looks up at the two, not sure what's going on.

The world didn't shift so much as perceptions increased, new abilities blending into Shufti's mind that hadn't been imagined before. The woman beside her was Mother and Flame and Joy all spun into a simple package.

With these new sense, Jack was Potential and Life just barely blossomed...

And Shufti herself? Was Warrior, and Mother...

Rachel led the way, gently, softly, her flame held to a flicker as she touched Jack's cheek lightly. It wasn't words, no, But bright, bubbly brightness, safety and warmth that begged to be let in to heal, like Momma's hands after a fall, like Momma's arms after John...

Jack's eyes widen and a little hand reaches up to Rachel's.

He doesn't know what to do. But he wants to let it in.

He doesn't have to do a thing but heal...Rachel was a firm believer in such, and children...children were always to be protected.

And to heal? To heal she had to reach out to those dark, bleeding memories, the ones that leaked fear and darkness through the bright young mind and cradle them gently in flame. Carefully, ever so carefully she began to wear the edges from those sharp memories, letting the primal fear bleed into herself and Shufti, letting it bleed away...

It seemed so small a task, but it meant much in one so young.

Tears bristle in Shufti's eyes when she sees things from Jack's angle. More than anything else, she feels intensely guilty.

Jack just watches, unsure what to make of it all. But all the bad feelings inside are hurting less.

When the edges were worn smooth and soft as river stones, leaving pictures and memory but so much less Fear Rachel withdrew...

...from Jack.

There were still wounds to face, and so she turned her attention, as warm as summer sunshine, on Shufti.

:;May I?::

::Do what?::

::You're bleeding too:: Rachel noted, as simple and clear as that. Rachel could taste pain and guilt, as thick and harsh as g;assen blood upon the tongue...

::I... I don't think you want to be in my mind. There's a lot more in there::

::Nothing you can show me is something I have not lived:: she promised softly. ::If not for your own sake, then for Jack's? So that you can both have a little peace...::

It was her nature to steal the pain from others, adding their drops to her own ocean...

::Will he see?::

::No:: she promised ::He is no longer in the mental link. It's just you and I...and I am very good with secrets::

::...Okay. Thank you::

Shufti's mind is full of memories of violence, some towards her mother as a young child, from about the age of twelve towards herself by a cruel master. More recently the war, the threat of starvation, and several assaults from Johnny within the bar. But there are happier thoughts to, of hope, of engagement, that pad out the most recent bad ones.

It's a harsh mind to reach out to...but not a lost one. Not one given over to rage and despair...

One that she can help, not as simply and purely as in the child, but she dimmed the darker memories, let them sink deeper into the mind where they need not poison...

She drew Pain and Fear off into herself, as inexorably as rivers led to the sea...

And at last, as a parting gift, another bright moment to add to coming joy, just a trace of star laced sky and high, wild song...

And it took Heartbeats, nothing more. Heartbeats before Rachel released Shufti's hand and smiled, a shadow laced, weary smile...but a true one.

She's trembling, but it does all feel better.

"Thank you. Did that hurt you?"

Rachel smile didn't waver as she leaned forward to kiss Shufti's forehead gently "No more than it had to" she admitted.

"Now take care of your little Jack and I'll be checking in okay?"

She nods, holding the child close. Jack has been exhausted lately, what with not getting much rest, and already he's falling asleep.

"Thank you." she says again.

"Thank you for letting me help" Rachel answered, simple and honest as she stood and headed for the lake door.

And yes, she was always bad with remembering to introduce herself.

She only just realises this.

"Um, who are you?"

"Rachel Grey" she answered with an embarrassed glance over her shoulder. She always managed to forget...

Then, then she was outside, off to her precious lake and to the let the latest bits of pain settle.

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