People Like Us Part III [MxFxM]

03

Varian was all too aware that he needed to go home at some point, to see how the rest of his kids were holding up. Night had come and gone in the hospital and he said goodbye to his mate before the sun had the chance to finish climbing into the sky. Daylight was everywhere by the time he pulled into the drive, but he didn't get out at first.

They were on their second day now, River had one more at most, as Grant had said. The needle to his pelvis had helped some, but just enough to return him to some form of stability. Inhaling deeply, Varian closed his eyes and reached up to rub at his temples, trailing his fingertips across his brow and then down into his eyes.

He only waited a little longer before he forced himself out of the car and up the steps into the house. There wasn't any talking that he could hear from the kitchen as he approached it, but there was the clinking of dishes and silverware, which alerted him to his dad and Lako having fed the kids. That thought was confirmed when he walked into the kitchen and they perked up, Corin immediately launching into questions.

"Is everything okay?" he asked immediately, then rolled his eyes. "Well not okay, but like, you know. River's still alive, Dad's still working, and he's gonna be okay? Eventually? Maybe?"

"He's relatively stable right now, but they still have limited time. Dr. Warren, Nathan, and Dr. Nhik are working on a solution to the transfusion problem." Varian answered, counting off the seconds until Lex would pick up after his brother, figuring it couldn't be many, and he got to three before it was answered.

"Do you think they'll be able to do it? Figure it out in time to fix River?"

Looking his children over, Varian exhaled quietly and then glanced at Victor and Lako. His father wasn't sitting, having chosen to stand, while Lako seemed more than comfortable to sprawl in his chair. At one look, he straightened up and shrugged an apology and Varian decided his son's question was more important to answer.

"Maybe."

"'Maybe' doesn't sound very reassuring." Vanessa mentioned.

"It's better than a flat-out no." Corin commented with a shrug.

"They're working on it." Varian tried again. "I don't want to promise you guys anything I'm not sure on. They're still looking over all the blood and trying to figure out what they can do with it. I came back to relieve your grandparents of their watch duty if you'd like to come back and visit with him for a while. Maybe cheer Charlie up a little so Venerra can get some sleep."

"Yeah, totally. It's weird being home without you guys and everyone else." Corin said, while Lex and Vanessa nodded along.

"Not that being in a hospital all day is any fun, but. That's at least where everyone else is," his sister added.

"Okay. Then why don't you guys finish eating and then get what you want and head out to the car? I wanna talk to the adults before we go."

They all nodded and resumed their breakfast while Varian waited for them to scatter and then seated himself at the table. Victor took the initiative to seat himself as well then, and before Varian had the chance to talk, his father already was.

"I got in touch with the Board factions, asking about Natalie. None of them have any answers at the moment, though Ace is still trying to get ahold of Taylin."

"I never met her. I wasn't aware Kayde had a sister. I didn't even know Helen had children until my senior year in high school."

"She was always quiet about her private life," his father answered, which earned a snort for Lako who waved a hand at Victor's resulting neutral glance.