Chapter 36

The Most Important Things

Miranda was pale.

Ghostly white in fact which seemed so out of place considering how healthy she'd been just a few hours before.

Al-Jilani had persuaded her to rest up and quickly piled every dry blanket they had on her in an effort to get her warmed up again.

She thought it was working until an hour later and Miri had progressed from coughing and sneezing to full on vomiting.

Tiberius was distraught, something which Al-Jilani found very difficult to deal with. He alternated between sobbing his heart out to asking what he could do to help his mom get better.

While Miri was still capable of talking, she cuddled him close and asked him to read to her. So that's what he did. He sat beside her on the bed and would read his alphabet books, reciting his mother's native tongue and his father's in sequence.

By lunchtime, Al-Jilani checked Miri's vitals and was slightly concerned by the irregularity of them. She gave a reassuring cuddle to Tib, told him to stay with his mother and not move from the bed before she headed out in search of a medic to make sense of it all.

Victus paced in his office. It was lunchtime but he wasn't hungry. He'd barely eaten in fact since Miri and Tib had gone to the camp weeks ago now. This morning was the first time since they went that he didn't have breakfast with them as Miranda had messaged him earlier explaining that they wouldn't make it.

Now he was so damn tense without that fleeting contact he enjoyed so much having with his family. He was just counting down the hours till dinner when he could go back.

"Victus?"

Adrien lifted his head as Garrus poked his own around the door.

"Free?"

"Sure. Come on in."

Garrus slipped inside carrying a number of data-pads in his arms.

"What's all this?" Adrien queried lightly as the other turian dumped them unceremoniously on the desk.

"Dockets, dockets and dockets. And... maybe a few bits that might help."

"Oh?"

Garrus picked a couple of specific pads from the pile. "Take a look."

Victus skimmed over the info quickly.

"Not seeing what you mean. Just seems to be some relativity decent projects in the outer provinces."

Garrus sighed. "That's the price, Victus."

"Price?"

"For the support of four senators."

Victus blinked. "Excuse me?"

"The projects are sound. Have good solid foundations in helping the people out there," Garrus quickly clarified. "But they haven't been signed off because of the dicking around that's been going on in chambers. I went to these guys and went through the proposal we're putting on the table next week. Asked what it would take for them to support it... and they gave me those."

Victus huffed. "I can't approve these, Vakarian. You know that."

"I know. Buuuuut I was wondering if a certain Crassus who you happen to know quite well might take up the batton. Especially considering his personal interest in seeing that proposal pass."

Adrien chuckled. "Spirits. You're quite crafty, Garrus. Just like your old man."

"Hmm. She's sick alright. I'll give her this booster for now. If she's still this ill tomorrow, we'll have to consider getting her to hospital," murmured the turian medic from the security detail Al-Jilani found.

Tiberius watched him carefully, whimpering when he saw the turian inject his mother with something. When the medic backed away from the bed, Tib scrambled back up and clung to his unconscious mother.

"Can't you take her now?" Al-Jilani pressed him.

"Sorry. We caught some smugglers bringing in banned materials this morning. Because of that, they've shut down any traffic in and out for the rest of today."

"Really?"

"Yep. No ones going anywhere today. Complete shutdown bar essential personnel. I'll mark in this however and note she may need to taken to the nearest hospital tomorrow. Keep her warm and hydrated."

He left shortly afterwards, leaving behind an auto-injector to use last thing before bed.

Ali-Jilani tried her best to encourage Tiberius to come with her to the canteen for the walk and to pick up food but he steadfastly refused to move.

He only wanted his mother and was not moving for anyone.

"Okay... you stay here. Don't touch anything. Just stay on the bed with your mom. I'll be back in a few minutes. Is there anything in particular you'd like?"

Tib shook his head before burying it in the blanket. Al-Jilani rubbed his back soothing.

"I'll get a surprise then. See you in a few minutes."

Crassus had no problem with picking up the tab to Victus's relief.

"This is more my field anyway," he joked with the Primarch.

"I'm grateful, Nimerius. Not just because of what this means for the bill but the fact these are such good causes in their own right."

"Bah. Save your thanks. I've more credits then I'd ever use. Better to spend it than leave it do nothing but build interest. I'm surprised they didn't put these forward to the foundation."

Victus smirked. "You underestimate the kudos you get for getting funding for things like this as a politician. With a foundation, you share partial credit in most cases."

"Heh. I'm sure the credits can find their way anonymously to the groups in need. Tell the senators that they'll have their money but I need them to contact me directly to sort out the details before any of it can be released."

"Will do. Thanks, Nimerius."

Victus ended the call and beamed at Garrus who sat opposite him. "Well... you got your answer."

"I did. That's four more votes secured."

Adrien glanced at the time. " What about the others? What are we looking at in terms of numbers?"

"Titus has persuaded at least ten already. She's like some sort of machine."

The Primarch burst out laughing. "Are we sure she persuaded and not terrified into compliance?"

"No idea," Garrus chuckled. "Atilius has, the last time I chatted to Sabia, gotten at least four yes's and three maybe's."

"Ah good. Just another hundred or so to work on." Victus glanced at the time. "I'm afraid I need to cut this short."

"Oh?"

"I've gotta pick up some food and head over to the camps."

Garrus smiled. "Tell Miri and Tib I said hello."

Tiberius felt his mother shiver even under all the blankets she had on. She gave strange gasping breaths, enough to frighten the little boy enough to try and wake her.

Al-Jilani had brought some food back before being called away by their neighbors whose daughter was also sick. She'd taken Miri's small bag with her – Miranda had talked her through what she needed to look for in regards to the most common disease running rampant through the camp and how to treat it.

Miri coughed and hacked so hard that Tib panicked. He had to find help! Tiberius grabbed his teddy bear, asked the stuffed toy to take care of his mother before he placing it on the bed next to her. Tib left it and rushed to the door, struggling before he managed to get it open and went outside.

Tiberius hovered anxiously at the top of the creaky old stairs before working up enough courage to slide down on his butt like his mother had shown him before.

Once on the ground floor, Tib ran out into the large common area near the large tents that they got their food at. The smell of the stew that was served most evenings hit his nose. If they were making that then his daddy had to be here he thought. Tib ran like his life depended on it for the entrance-way.

Victus had arrived only a few minutes before with a bag full of dinner he'd picked up along the way only to find his way blocked by the security teams that patrolled the outer fencing.

"What the hell is going on?" he demanded.

"Primarch, I can't let you inside," the security guard repeated. "You'll have to come back tomorrow. No one is getting in or out tonight."

Just as he was about to press further, he heard his son screaming for him.

"DADDY!"

Victus dropped the bag to the ground and leapt up on the nearest fence to see his small child better.

Tiberius was running as fast as he could up the slightly steep hill that led to the fortified entrance.

"TIB! I'm here!"

His toddler gasped for breath, sobbing almost incomprehensibly as he tried to push past the guards to his father.

One attempted to shove him back only to find himself pushed hard by the Primarch.

"Any of you touch my son and you'll regret it," Victus growled before he picked up Tiberius. "Baby, what's wrong?!"

"Mommy really sick! I think she's dying! I don't want her to die!" he gasped.

Victus quickly cuddled him close. "Your mom's not dying today, baby."

He pushed past the security team who didn't try to prevent his passing by and who stood back and watched as the Primarch strode in to the camps.

"Baby, which one is your building?" he asked the weeping child in his arms as he reached the buildings. Tiberius pointed at the one with a large letter painted on it. "Okay. Do you remember where your apartment is in here?"

"Top! At the top."

Victus rushed inside, taking the stairs four steps at a time while ignoring how damn shaky and insecure it was. By the time he reached the top, Tiberius had calmed enough that his father let him back on his feet.

Victus shoved the door open and burst in to the apartment.

"Miri?! Miri!"

Miranda was too pale with breathing shallow and labored. Victus looked around and was horrified by the state of where they lived. The roof was practically falling in and they were crushed together in this tiny room. No wonder Miri never let him up here.

"Tib, where's Al-Jilani?"

"She went out. Someone came to the door and she had to help."

Victus huffed. "Right."

He set about wrapping Miranda up tight in the blankets, preparing her for the trip out of this place. He'd just finished when Al-Jilani herself arrived back, attracted by all the commotion.

"Primarch?"

"I'm getting Miri out of here and to a hospital. I'll be bringing Tib with me. If you could pack up their belongings while I'm gone it'll be very much appreciated."

Al-Jilani stuttered. "Sure. Just... I think Miranda would disagree with being removed from here."

"She's not getting a choice in the matter. Tib?"

His son rush forward.

"Hop on my back, baby," Victus hummed as he knelt down near the bed. His son scrambled up and sat half in his father's cowl.

Victus stood back up and bundled the unconscious Miranda in his arms. "I'll be back later for their things."

Al-Jilani shook her head. "Don't. I can get it back to your home. Let me know how it goes at the hospital."

Victus nodded his agreement even as he pushed past and out of the apartment.

"Hold on, baby," he hummed as he set off down the stairs and finally out of the building itself.

The security team was still there at gate when he arrived back but none made any attempt to stop him leaving, a fact he put down to how sick Miranda looked and how angry he was.

Victus doubted he'd ever had driven as recklessly as he had for those ten minutes it took to reach the nearest hospital. After coming to a near screeching halt – quite a feat considering the model of air-car he drove – Victus had somehow managed to get both the unconscious Miranda and the scared Tiberius out of the car and into the hospital within less than a minute.

Which is how he now found himself sitting in the waiting room with his son holding on to him with a death-grip while the doctors were busy with Miranda in the room opposite.

Victus wasn't as fearful as he had been due to the fact Miri had finally woken up as she was laid on the trolley. She didn't say anything comprehensible but being awake was better than not.

"Primarch?"

Victus looked up at the doctor who arrived to the front of where he sat.

"Yes? How is Miri?"

The turian smiled warmly. "She's quite a bit better. Once we figured out what was going on, it was actually a simple enough fix. You'll be able to visit her shortly."

"What was going on? Anything I should be concerned about?"

The doctor tilted his head. "You... don't know? Heh. You might want to take a seat."

Miranda blearily opened her eyes.

She felt so tired. Her brain hurt, her body hurt, everywhere hurt. And she clearly wasn't in the same place she remembered being in.

Miri attempted to lift herself upright only to give up with exhaustion.

"One second."

She glanced to her right as Victus, who she hadn't noticed being there, got up from his seat and helped her to sit up with pillows to prop her back.

"Thank you," she sighed before she spotted Tiberius curled up in blankets on some seats pushed together.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like crap," she sighed. "What happened?"

Victus gave a tight smile. "You got sick."

"That damn cold that ran through the camp!" she hissed. "I should have rested more. Just ran myself down."

Adrien leaned back against the bed and started to play with her hand. "That's part of it alright."

"Part?"

"Well something else definitely played a part in how sick you got."

Miranda sighed. "My brain isn't working. You might need to just tell me."

Victus laughed before he gently moved her hand and placed it carefully over her abdomen. Once there he rested his own on top of hers.

Miri frowned and stared at it. "What?" She turned her surprised gaze to Victus who gave her a bright smile.

"Really?" she gushed, nearly crying when Victus nodded.