Siren (Umbrella Academy 7.5)

Heartbreak

[I actually started crying when this song began playing, so, good luck keeping the waterworks in... 🖤. (Thomas is about three months old.)]

Madelina frowned as she watched Thomas. He hadn't been acting like a normal baby.

The doctors had guessed it was some sort of thing in his brain, which Madelina didn't understand because as far as she knew, she hadn't done anything to harm her baby while she was pregnant.

August returned home and noticed his wife pacing as she looked at Thomas.

She finally noticed her husband. "August, something is wrong with Thomas! I-I don't know."

August looked at his son and nodded. "Come on. We're gonna get him checked out. Far as I recall, they saw nothing, but something could have developed within a few months."

They drove to the hospital and Madelina looked at her baby worriedly.  He looked pale and she pressed a gentle hand to his chest, finding his tiny heartbeat irregular.

"August, something is wrong!"

He glanced at her. "What is it?"

"I-I--August, something is wrong with his heartbeat."

"Shit," August muttered, speeding up.

They arrived at the hospital and after a quick explanation to the nurse, Thomas was taken to be checked out.

August took Madelina's hand, seeing her expression and said softly, "With luck, it's nothing serious."

Madelina looked at August as tears stung her eyes. "But what if it is serious? What then?"

"We'll figure it out, Madi."

Dr. Conway took a look at Thomas and said, "I'm so sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Wright. Thomas has a serious heart condition, and we can try to treat it with surgery, but it's risky for a three-month-old. Thomas likely wouldn't survive the surgery."

"How long would he live without the surgery?" August asked as his voice broke.

"With our best hope, a couple weeks at most."

"You have to do something!" Madelina cried.

"Mrs. Wright, there isn't much we can do, I'm afraid. With surgery, Thomas may live a month, he may live a few hours. Without surgery, he has a couple weeks at most. I'll give you two time to discuss the best option. I'm sorry about what you're going through."

As soon as Dr. Conway left the room, Madelina broke down. August held her as she sobbed. He himself was feeling the same emotions, but had to be strong for his heartbroken wife.

Madelina walked towards Thomas and took his small hand. "I wish we knew how to help you, little one."

August met his wife's eyes. "What do you want to do?"

"What do you want to do?" Madelina repeated.

August sighed. "Mads, I don't know. I-I don't know."

The couple hugged each other and after a moment, Madelina said, "I don't want the surgery."

"Madi, are you--"

Madelina cut him off. "I'm sure. We get two weeks at most with him if we don't get the surgery. If we do, we might only get a few hours with him."