Sicktember Day 17: Ginger Ale and Crackers
Word Count: 1040
Author: aquietwritingcorner/realitybreakgirl
Rating: G/K
Characters: Gracia Hughes and Maes Hughes
Warning:
Summary: Gracia needs Maes. He'll do anything to make it to her, and with what she needs to help her.
Notes:

Ginger Ale and Crackers

She couldn't move. Gracia couldn't move. Maes Hughes understood this. He knew the ramifications of her moving. He knew that if she moved awful, terrible things would happen. The doctor had prepared him for this. He had known this was a possibility. And yet, Hughes hadn't been prepared. It came when he least expected it.

He should have been ready for this.

He found out through a phone call. The neighbor had come by to check on Gracia. Hughes hadn't wanted to leave her home alone, not in her condition, but she had insisted, told him that she would be fine. He had finally relented but had asked their elderly neighbor to keep an eye on her. He had assured Hughes that he would go by and check on Gracia.

When he had called, Hughes could hear Gracia moaning in the background. He had shot up out of his seat, phone in hand. The man had issued instructions to him, telling him what he needed to do, what he needed to get. He had reassured Hughes that he had dealt with this before, but it would be best if Hughes got what he had told him.

Hughes understood this. He needed to get these things to help Gracia.

As soon as he had finished talking, Hughes had hung up the phone and whirled in place, heading straight for his coat.

"Wait—sir! Where are you going!?" The private who had been helping him looked alarmed, confused.

"My wife needs me right now!" Hughes said. "It's not good! I have to go!"

And without another word about it, Hughes left the office, practically running as he did. He didn't stop to answer questions. He didn't stop to talk to anyone. He was a man on a mission, and that mission was to procure the items that would help his wife, and then go to her side. She needed his help. She needed him there. She wasn't able to do anything for herself right now, and he needed to be there to help her!

He sprinted to his car, and slammed the door shut, cranking it up and starting to back out almost before the car was ready. He paid little attention to the generally understood parking lot etiquette. He just backed up with the gas pressed down, put it back in gear, and then took off. He barely let the guardsman get the gate to the officer's parking up in time. He turned onto the street quickly, feeling the force of the turn as he did, and then shot off towards the nearest location that sold what he needed.

It took him less than ten minutes to get there. He whipped into the parking lot, weaving around people and other cars, expertly sliding into a parking space. He was jumping out of the car as he was turning it off and taking off at a sprint towards the building.

Once inside, he refocused his primary objective to getting the items he needed. He scanned the aisles, looking for the items. One he found quickly, and he grabbed it, being careful not to crush what was in the box. The other took him a little longer, and he became more and more impatient the longer it took. Finally, he spotted it. There was one case left, and he sprinted to it, whisking it up just before someone else did.

"Sorry, it's an emergency!" he said as he jogged away and towards the cashiers.

The lines were long, but he knew that he didn't have time for that. Every second counted. Every moment was a risk. He had to get this home to Gracia as soon as possible. He didn't think twice.

"Excuse me," he said, "Excuse me! Let me through! This is an emergency!"

He shouldered his way through the line, through the crowd, ignoring any protests. He put his items down on the cashier's table. "These, please, and hurry!"

"Hey, guy!" an irate voice came from behind him. "What do you think, cutting line like—"

Hughes's head snapped to the man. "I told you it's an emergency!"

The man scoffed. "Doesn't look like anything that couldn't wait to—mmeeeh!"

The man's eyes grew wide as Hughes leaned over him, his eyes deadly, focused, serious.

"I said it's an emergency. It's for my wife. You can wait."

The man swallowed, nodded, clearly unnerved by the deadly edge in Hughes's voice.

Hughes snapped his head back to the cashier, saw she had rung up his purchases, slapped some money down and scooped them up.

"Thanks, you can keep the change!" he called back, rushing out the door.

Once again, he booked it to his car, only being careful with the items. They had to be in usable condition when he got home.

He whipped his car out of the parking lot, and into traffic, heading for home. He weaved in and out of cars, driving like he was back in Ishval, before slowing just enough to swing his car into a place to park. Grabbing the items, he rushed into the building, heading straight for the stairs. He took them two at a time, being careful not to jostle or crush the packages too much.

Finally, he was at his door, and he threw it open, rushing in.

"Gracia! Gracia, I'm here! Don't move! I promise, everything will be alright! Just wait a moment!"

He rushed past the couch that she was on, past his startled neighbor, and into the kitchen. Working quickly, he got together what was needed, and carefully rushed it back to her side, holding up almost as if an offering to her. He looked up at her with worried, pleading eyes from where he knelt by the couch.

"You'll be alright. Just use this, alright?"

Gracia sat up, looked at him, and sighed, although there was humor in her eyes.

"Thank you. But Maes, honey, it's just some morning sickness. The ginger ale and crackers could have waited until after you were off work."

He had nothing to say to that. But he couldn't help but smile as she took some of the food, he offered to her and ignored the chuckling of their neighbor in the background.