Alright people we are getting into the final stage…not final chapters because I kinda counted how much they will be and I expect ten or more…
If you are very very very delighted with one fic and want a continuation I didn't write or post you can donate me at least $5 bucks, most of this fics have next chapters I don't finish because lack of motivation but hey a $5 is a $5, I see a few reviews and coments that fics that are abandoned months laters receive coments of wanting to know what happends next. Here it is, I finished my handling with you all, enjoy the fic
Arthur hand seen Nora since the nursery event and hadn't heard anything also, that was two weeks ago, three plus two were five, since less than 5 minutes of conversation doesn't count as seeing each other they hadnt seen in a month…were the hell is she this time? She was sick the last time they see, she came back to use the services of the Prydwen as if was her right as sentinel but…He missed her, a lot, she slip again, he thought they were okay, maybe he should confess after all? To make her stick?
He had a lot of work lately anyway, there was good news for him but he cant enjoy life if she wasn't around, he wanted to came back to his quarters and find her, even just there reading.
His attention tried to focus into reading the papers in front of his deck but he cant, he was worried sick lately, he even was contemplating the idea of sending a patrol to look for her or even…hire…a private investigator…but no, that would compromise his image too much.
His eyes posed on the terminal in the desk: the first email was from Knight Cade, goddammit the man keep sending him the results of the status report of all the brotherhood soldiers, it was okay it was his job it was mandatory for him to send him a copy but he sent already four and the emails had a filter to snich to the writer if the reader had read it or not, so he didn't even open them. One: he was no doctor, Arthur couldn't understood most of the words of those reports. Two: he couldn't care enough? He had thousands of soldiers a board is not like there was a massive flue or anything to make numbers or estadistics. Three: it was his job to do that numbers anyway…? Four: There was so much people why this was relevant to him. Okay Cade, thanks for the copy, you don't need to send it four times.
Not one, not two, not with mayus in the title, not with the important filter… Well what the hell, he would open it so the automatical filter will inform to Cade that he read it…looking inside the email there was just an attached file, the usual file but
Subject: "QUARTERLY HEALTH BROTHERHOOD REPORT"
Attached file: "IMPORTANT CLASSIFIED INFORMATION"
Oh wow even the file name was in mayus.
He open it, it was the classical file. This file had the name and info of all soldiers, he included, but separared by range and alphabetically ordered. That means that for example, the four paladins were all together. Of course, as elder, he was first, that's why it was a classified information file but then curiosity hit him like a coin meeting the end of the jar. Oh my he never thought on this before, Nora must be in this file too! Yeah he never paid too much attention to this information to realize it, after all he was no doctor. Mmm lets see, the first entry was him with the info about her mods updated with the revision from the last weeks…the second file was the second most important range, the sentinel, of course, and there was Nora…just Nora…no surname Nora, although he believed that her surname from her husband was Howard from what he see at her house.
Her height, weight…oh my she really doesn't weight a shit, aren't those the numbers of someone underweight? Comparing it with the age and height, his eyebrows crossed, looking at this numbers…oh my god it was horrible, she had awful levels of everything, vitamins, proteins, blood, sugar, colesterol…the only thing that was in a good numbers was the vitamin D, no wonder, walking and traveling that much…hemoglobins were so low…potassium…oh my her bones…ohnonononono this wasn't acceptable she had an eating problems but if she keep running around the Commonwealth on this health status she is going to end BAD one day…what if right now she was fighting for her life in some corner of the commonwealth? Fainted or without forces from malnutrition? Nora relays a lot on drugs but that isn't going to help forever! It may give her a boost for some minutes but wit this levels of…of…well he cant read this stuff non understand what it means but anyway she cant process well the drugs, some days she will end up with an overdose! Because her body didn't process the chemicals enough!
Her triglycerides were shitty? Oh no, a big anxiety took over all his body reading this, there may be a mistake? Maybe? Maybe is someoneelse data?...nono is perfectly possible from here, eating only one complete meal a day only is totally possible. Should he send that patrol to search for her? Like right now? Arthur keep reading until a red sticker on the lower part on the file caught his attention.
Maternity leave expected in…a date that was three weeks ahead. If he look in that sticker there was a note, saying that she made a sub-unit beta HCG test two weeks ago and her results were 30-300. But that information meant…oh my.
Knight Cade was quickly summoned to his private quarters, this conversation could not go anywhere and not be heard by anyone else
-So I see you received my email Elder –oh the knight was salty, he didn't have time for this. Nonono he had important QUESTIONS yes questions because with this man he can do questions yes please.
-Yeah sorry about it, I had a lot of work this weeks –it was true, he had work, he had been busy but still this subject very much concerns him, and it was a tickling bomb too!
-I can only imagine, dealing with the fractions in California…
-That is not the theme of discussion today –he stated, making the man shut quickly, as a grown up man he had his boundaries and manners more…polished than Nora.
-Of course –he just simply said, Arthur turned back, he didn't know how to approach this subject, he stayed in silence for a few seconds before he reunited the guts to speak freely about his lover to another soldier.
-So…the report said that Sentinel…
-Nora is severly underweight –Knight Cade completed the sentence, Arthur sighted, looking back at him.
-Right? Im not an expert but I figured that reading it…
-I was not able to perform a urine test but she has a strong presence of chems in her blood also. Its understandable because she was three weeks in the field and its no place to be clean but considering her numbers doing drugs is anything but safe right now –a balloon of worries started to grow inside Arthurs chest as he heard the explanations –She may have a good health right now because she almost hasn't experience radiation so her spoileage is more slowly than ours but a large variety of health problems could strike her at any minute considering her levels…of basically everything. She can't just rely on drinking water and rad-away, eating noodles and trying to find non-radiated pre-war stock, its impossible to maintain.
-The rumours of her not eating are completely true –at hearing the confirmation Knight Cade cover his mouth.
-Damn –he babble
-She wasn't as skinny before the bombs dropped so its not genetics.
-I have the numbers, as a doctor I don't need to count every rib on her chest, there's a math count between her height and weight that tells me she is 20kg bellow of just skinny.
Arthur felt bad, he knew or had a very palpable idea of this and he didn't do enough to stop it.
-So she needs to start a diet, what else do we have? –Knight Cade laughed behind his hand, trying to not be disrespectful with his elder worries.
-What else do we have? –he asked to himself low trying to not be heard but Arthur can, with his mods he can, with his mods he can amplify and separate sounds in different frecuencys to hear and process them separately. It was a lack of respect to the elder, yes, but he keep the focus of the conversation, he needed the man, he only had this secret- well we need to start right away with a threatment or she will not be able to carry on to the third trimester-Arthur blinked, his breathing stopping, his entire body getting frozen-a pregnancy elder, we didn't have a pregnancy in the brotherhood in a long time –the last children to be born safely inside the Prydwen had already 7 months old so yeah, soldiers and relationships will go freely inside the brotherhood and still not many children were conceived.
Oh my oh my oh my…he whished to hear those words for so long….
-So she is…-he wanted to clarify, still unable to move, almost without the power to process words from his brain to his mouth.
-Three weeks pregnant by the time the test was made, if I make it again today it should be 500-5000 mui/ml and god knows when im going to perform another but it she makes it back in two weeks it should be 300000-210000 yes is crazy how the numbers change
Arthur stood in silence, for some moments, trying to gain back his breathing.
-She was informed of the results? –Knight Cade doubted if giving that answer was a good idea or not but…
-Of course, is a quick test, it only take some hours to give the results, she solicited the test, I performed it in total confidentiality as she asked and she came to know the results.
The elder didn't understand why.
-And she left? –why not tell him about her…worries?
-I haven't see her since that day, I don't know when she left or where –why not tell him to specifically ask for this type of test?
-She left at 19hs that day, that's the Prydwen ventibird entry –why not tell him anything at all?
-Well yes she came to my office at 18hs I cannot remember so specifically –so she left after having that information.
I was like she just came to take the pregnancy test, confirm her fears…and leave.
"I do fear" She said that day to him.
-Wait she takes pills right? I authorized them –he even sees her bleeding several times, meaning that she had her periods.
-That isn't a guarantee of anything, the pills are not perfect but yes she did the pick ups chords to the date she started consuming them
-So she is like in danger now or something?
-Its very possible for her to have a sludden misscariage –a drop of cold sweat moved down on Arthurs neck, with what they were talking about this things shouldn't surprise him but it was still…important to him to not feel about it- On the bright side maybe the cravings and hormones change her eating habits at somepoint, she isn't 60 days pregnant still so there's a lot of changes still coming
-We don't know that she isn't here –oh my so many emotions were running in all his limbs, so much panic an anxiety.
-If the sentinel wish to carry this pregnancy to end…
-Why she wouldn't want to finish it? –his worries speak loud for him, Cade look at the elder and at seeing him looking to another side ashamed, the knight continued.
-She needs to start a treatment and stop immediately the consumption of chems –Arthur nodded, he never agrees with that since the beginning but now it was dangerous- Right now theres a extreme risk of abortion, at least in my opinion, with her numbers so low and wandering out there In the radiation.
Oh my no…
-She wishes to end this pregnancy why woudlnt she? –does anybody knows any kind of information he doesn't? –the safest place for that baby is the brotherhood.
-I cannot agree more elder
Arthur was in a mix of being…exited…and worried sick, and happy and overjoyed but also frighten and so scared and…
-Can we know now who the father is or? –that words came out from an exited part of him but of course the knight shake his head in denial.
-No, too early, and I only perfomed a test
-So we are at week five now –his brain was working so hard with the little information he had- maternity leave is projected in three weeks ahead
-Exactly, the standard 60 days but that's for women in good state of health right now the sentinel is in several risk, its not only about the baby but imagine if she is in the middle of a fight and she has this abortion, its incredible inconvenient and dangerous, she could bleed to death!
-Nora almost never travels alone and she had the ventibirds signals and the minutemen flares shell manage…
-Im sure she has been before in dangerous situations and scaped death by miracle but…
Cade was right, he said that to reassure himself but oh boy he feared for her safety. His fingers were trembling, and soon his knees will start doing it too
-Maybe she thinks that since is still so early is not that dangerous…
-She was a mother before –the elder stop, he was right, so damn right- truth is I hadn't the time to tell her about her health so lets…give her that credit –he bited his tongue, trying to suppress the nerves he had on.
It was so difficult to deal with all this uncertainty, she wasn't around and she was in danger, their pregnancy was in risk, she was at the edge of practically dying too…She slips too hard from his hands this time.
-Thank you for…insisting on this subject with me Knight Cade, I will take action on the matter
He wanted to be alone, not wanting to be seen at the edge of a crisis, so much was going on his head.
-Of course elder, any baby of the brotherhood is a brother or sister we all must protect.
That's right, It wasn't just about Noras wishes, not this time.
The knight leave his quarters and Arthurs knees finally failed to him, he fall on the cold and hard metal ground causing an echo in the entire room.
And he cried. He cried and cried and cried so much. In confusion, in fear, in joy, in happiness, in worry, in pain… he had such a mix of feelings leaving his throat in desesperate cries. There was just no justification for any of this. He can make excuses for her until reaching just a certain point where…theresnt more.
You are nervous and don't wanna tell me? Fine
You are scared to be just around? Fine, go with the Minutemen
But don't disappear, don't put yourself in risk. She make things so difficult. What he imagined as a happy moment since a long time now was making him suffer in distress a lot. He imagined being a dad with her as something so beautiful that will unite them more and in the contrary she lefts! Again!
The next thing the elder would do was something very very bold, oh dear, Nora will surely hear the news and come back. The elder of the Brotherhood of Steel, four paladins and 2 knights with machine guys arrived at the gates of Diamond City. Surely this was an unexpected event, he even noticed that there was people…taking notes and photographs of their arrival like this was some kind of big event.
-This is interesting, what is the supreme commander of the brotherhood doing in the Commonwealth jewel? -ask one of the Diamond City guards, with also a commando of his own forces , both groups seemed pretty capable of holding a fight for a long time.
-Your reputation procedures you, im looking for the services of the synth you allow to live here, Nick Valentine –said the man that gave the order to destroy the institute.
Everyone stay in silent until the leader of the guards talked.
-We will escort you to his office…Maxson, in gratitude for your services cleaning the routes next to your base in Hardware Town. It really help with the security around.
When the synth mayor was killed, Diamond City was taken under…a military government, but this guys weren't militarys, they were just strong, insanely strong and organized group of old guards that care for the people and manage some things for the city to keep functioning like before the mayor was unmasked as a synth
Arthur walked around the city, this place was nothing like Noras settlements, it was chaotic, hostile, dirty and this hallways everywhere were awful.
People look at his bodyguards like they weren't welcome, they can suck on a Deathclaw cock and perish for all he matters right now.
When standing in front of the office door, he knocked, a "come in" feminine voice invited them, Arthur open the door just to find a woman and a 2 gen synth sitting in a desk, she was holding a notebook and he was…relaxed…too relaxed to just be in front of the elder of the brotherhood of steel.
-Today you will perform all machines duty, serve to humankind, synth –he just said to the robot playing in detective old clothes.
-Well, good afternoon for you too –Nick just responded, getting in Arthur nerves- Alright, take a seat, make yourself comfortable.
Why are robots were so rude? He sat on the chair in front of his desk while the secretary at his side…waited.
-Do you came here for a private manner or you wish your company to stay here too? –asked the secretary, Arthur made a sign for them to come in, too small place for so many power armors, so the two knights waited outside with their machine guns, menacing everyone that went close to the place to sneak into the brotherhood business.
-When you are trying to find someone whos gone missing, devil is in the details, tell me everything you can –said Nick Valentine giving him the usual treatment like he would do with any first time client.
It was obvious that the rumors about their arrival prepared them, or someone told him that he was specifically there for an investigation.
-I think you know her too well, Sentinel Nora –Arthur was amazed to see the change of expressions in the silicone face of the destroyed robot.
-Nora? Our Nora? The Nora that destroyed the institute? –the elder nodded and Valentine look at him stranged- when was the last time you see her?
-Month and a week
-That's not missing, that's the usual time it takes her to appear in front of anyones noses, deadlines are far away, she is on time
-We need her back at the airport
-Im not snitching on my friend, althought im not sure if she wants to be missing or not, Im sure that now she isn't
-Im also sure that you don't want her wandering around having a miscarriage –the eyes of the synth and the woman open wide at his comment- she needs to come back to the brotherhood
-So you are the guy…-said the lady, Valentine look at her bad- Piper told me
-Why I wasn't informed of anything? –asked the synth, Arthur felt his cheeks warm a bit.
-It's a ladys talk im not gonna spread about her love life with you guys
-Did Nora said anything about me? –ask the elder.
-I hadn't see her in a while, but Piper is the best journalist on the Commonwealth and she told me something something about preparing a new article about the relationship of the hero of the commonwealth and the elder of the brotherhood of steel, she say it wasn't just in the news yet because she needed more material to make it relevant to publish –Nick rolled his brilliant yellowish eyes and went back to put his hands on the desk.
-You said miscarriage? –Valentine asked now getting the whole point of the conversation, analizing each word and falling into the surprise. Arthur affirmed with the head- I never thought she would want to have kids again –his eyebrows crossed in doubt.
-Im not following.
-After what happened between her and her son …-Valentine saw the empty void of ideas in the man's head and shut the hell up- you don't know it and it's none of my business to tell you about it.
-You better told tell me, this is about her! –what the hell!? This is important! He can't just skip information! Everybody told him little pieces that didn't help to connect anything
-No, we are just discussing what's necessary to find her, that story right now is irrelevant to the case, so im finding her and when she is here , you ask, and if she doesn't want to answer is her goddam right
Althought he was glad she had loyal friends that respected her the fact that everybody was so secretive wasn't helping at all.
-So you'll take the case? –ask the elder analyzing each of his expressions.
-I cant promise its gonna be quick, I really hope that she comes back first on her own because Nora is slippery as fuck –heck he knows about it- but there's no safest place for an abortion than the brotherhood of steel
Silence, the entire room went into silence.
Even Ellie was shocked
-What!? –Arthur got up from his chair and rapped his knuckles on the desk calling the synth attention.
-Nick! –said the woman actually annoyed with him –you went too far!
-What? I wasn't joking around I mean it seriously! Why she would want to be a mother again after everything she's been trought!?
-I think there's a lot of things I deserve answers –the bitterness in Arthus voice made the synth tremble a bit, he never was intimidated enough but right now he touched a very sensitive spot.
-I think you deserve a lot of explanations –good difference between both words, the man noticed how careful he was being at talking- but im not the one that can provide them, ill search and send her back to the airport before its too late
-8 months are left, there's plenty of time –Arthur noticed something…he wasn't the first one to tell him that Nora would want for this pregnancy to come to the end…does Cade knows anything? Apparently anybody knew more than him! He was the ignorant fucker! His theets closed hard an gritted in frustration.
-Does she know? –the elder nodded, Nick turned his head to the side looking at nothing in the wall- of course she knows. Don't worry, you will discuss this together.
This was a public subject of the brotherhood now, but even knowing that, he felt ashamed that his brothers paladins knew about this situation between him and the sentinel. How can she not want his child? It was unthinkable that the woman would wish an abortion than a family with the most powerful man on the Commonwealth
Arthur neither talk, or sleep, or heard anyone of his brothers in the way back to the airport on the ventibird. His mind was in blank and stay like that until the next day, when he summoned to his quarters the Knight Cade.
-You said something when we meet yesterday that stick on my brain for a while…" If the sentinel wish to carry this pregnancy to end…" Why wouldn't she? Why would you say that? –he could understand if she was nerveous, if she had traumas, if she feared about having a baby again but what he didn't understand is why two different people that doesn't know between them suggested the same thing.
-I don't know elder, it just came out of my mouth, a way of saying –Knight Cade was obviously nervous, and confused to be summoned like that
-No, theres a reason behind it, spill it –Arthur was firm today, he consider enough peoples feelings for too long.
-The Chain That Binds… –the elder rolled his eyes, he couldn't say bullshit out loud but he wont summon that to scape from him today, they knew for so many years and he put that shitty excuse to not, not today.
-Im so glad to have such an attentive and devoted soldier like you on your position, respecting the brotherhood protocols and rules devoutly…-he said before turning his back on the shaky man who didn't dare to look him in the eyes- don't worry well look for every knight and paladin in the airport to follow to chain of authority above you so that way you wont be compromised…
Nonono Cade didn't want to expand this, if this gets any bigger the sentinel will blow his bald head…
-She ask me to keep the secret of the pregnancy test and do it as subtle as possible…-he said low with his voice all shaky, Arthur paid attention to his words.
-But you didn't keep the confidentiality on the subject, why?
-Its my job to make a report anyway –the elder was cornering him like the cats of Quinlan did with some creatures that lived inside the Prydwen walls.
-Yeah but you were very insistent to notify to me…why?
-Because it may be your kid Arthur for gods sake! –what's with this shitty game? He knew the elder since he was a teenager to be mortified like that, he didn't deserve this treatment- its not of my business what you both have in hands but its will surely turn worse for me if I didn't notify you that the sentinel is doing chems during a pregnancy! –alright that sounded like a good reason.
-Ill ask again, why she wouldn't want to continue the pregnancy to the end? –he clearly couldn't corner the knight much longer, playing with people patience had a limit until they break or get tired of being disrespected.
-She is unhealthy, does chems, has been a mother before and has traumas, disappear after hearing the results –ok that was a very convincing list of arguments, things that were very obvious an noticeable for anyone, probably Cade wasn't to blame for anything and he was just desesperate looking for answers, quite embarrassing, he should look for a covert apology- but mostly…-the elder went to look at him after that pause- she didn't look happy at all about the news.
That hit Arthur in the chest like a bomb.