People Like Us Part III [MxFxM]

12

Breaks weren't something Nathan really allowed himself much of lately. Everything with River was putting a strain on everyone, and Nathan knew his work was important if he wanted to save his son. But then the surgery was over, and River lived through it, and while he might've been in a coma, he was alive. Except, Nathan was still having trouble with turning "doctor mode" off. He still kept himself in the lab, more focused on his work than anything else. More focused on it than his other children, or Varian, or whatever they might need. Nathan hated leaving, he was so worried about something happening to River, or something happening in the lab while he wasn't there, and he was pretty sure his blood was at least fifty percent coffee at that point.

And yeah, he knew being worried and working himself to death wasn't helping anybody, least of all River, but it was hard to just sit back and not worry. Not when one of his kids wasn't waking up and was still laying in a hospital bed practically wasting away. So, Nathan didn't really think he could be blamed for all the work he was doing at the hospital.

"Anything new? You've been glaring at the table for a couple minutes now," a voice asked, and Nathan jerked just a tiny bit at the sound, turning his head to see Michael hovering nearby. "Unless the table insulted you or something, admittedly I didn't hear the start of the conversation."

"You're hilarious." Nathan muttered. "No, nothing new, I just have a thing for glaring at shit. It's really entertaining, you should try it sometime. We're still waiting on the results from the lab for those tests we ran. Once I've got them we can go from there. Right now, it's just waiting."

"Shouldn't be too much longer. The lab's quick, we ordered them STAT. You'll know as soon as we get results in."

Nathan nodded to that, a little absently. He knew testing took time, knew it would be a little bit before they knew anything more about what was going on inside of River. River, who Nathan hadn't seen much of since coming back to Mandan. Charlie had been taken home, and Nathan wasn't sure if Varian was in the hospital yet or not, or if the kids were with him. Who was with River then, other than Dr. Warren? Maybe Nathan did need a break, for now.

"I'm gonna step out for a bit," he started to Michael, moving to stand up from his chair. "I'm not going far, just to River's room. Do me a favor and have someone come find me when the results are in."

"Sure thing. And, do us all a favor and maybe avoid the coffee today, okay? You're not having a heart attack in my lab."

"Let's be honest, we both know I'm still gonna drink the fucking coffee." Nathan returned, shrugging as he moved to walk away.

He pointedly ignored Michael's mumblings about caffeine, heart attacks, and stubborn doctors in favor for walking out of the lab and through the hospital toward the Nether ward. Maybe Nathan had a mild coffee addiction, but in his defense, it got him through many, many all-nighters in both college and the hospital. And Michael wasn't even his doctor, so Nathan took his words more as...ignorable suggestions.

And there was also that thing with Andrea and the kids that Nathan would need to set up, at some point. Of all the things to agree to while being seduced, Nathan thought, rolling his eyes. But it would be good for the kids, a bit of a distraction from everything else going on. And he would worry about them a little less if they were looked after by someone he trusted. More than he currently trusted Adrian and Charlie at any rate.

When Nathan reached River's room, Dr. Warren was busy making notes in River's chart, seeming to be checking him over. Nathan was glad that River had such a good doctor and appreciated Dr. Warren's support through everything. He'd need to send the man some sort of fruit basket when everything was said and done. Several fruit baskets probably.