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Apr. 26th, 2017 06:56 pmIt's been almost ten years since the assassination attempt that left Gabriel Tam critically injured and near death. Almost ten years since Dr. Vincent Navarro told Gabriel Tam what his post-injury options were -- and what the inevitable consequences would be if he didn't retire from Parliament.
("I really wouldn't recommend that.")
It's been seven years since he'd made the trip to the Border and Rim planets to check on the progress of the IIGA - over his doctor's strenuous objections.
("Are you listening to me, Gabriel? This could kill you!")
He hadn't listened to Navarro or to Regan, but he had listened to Simon. He'd kept his promise to take care of himself as best he could, and he'd heeded Regan's warnings and trusted her judgment on what limits were needed.
It had worked. Sort of. But only in part.
It's been three years, now, since his health truly began to decline. A year ago, he'd started making the plans that neither he nor Regan wanted to talk about, but which they both knew were necessary - updating his will, settling financial assets into various trusts and annuities for Regan and their children, all the little details.
He's served almost two complete terms as the Senator from Osiris. Barring a miracle - which he doesn't deserve and doesn't expect - he knows he won't live to see a third.
Then, six months ago, Navarro had called.
* * * * * * *
"I won't lie to you, Gabriel. It's a high-risk trial. Higher than I'd usually recommend to one of my patients. Except --"
"Except that I'm measuring out my time in weeks, right?" He'd chuckled, breaking the awkward pause. "Go on, Vincent. I'm listening."
"Most treatments for your condition focus on neosteroid medications, or modifications to them. This one is taking a more biological approach. They're proposing to change the way your lungs absorb oxygen through the alveolar surfaces. If it works ... it should compensate for the scarring, and your damaged lung capacity."
"And if it doesn't?"
"Then you could lose the ability to absorb oxygen at all... sooner rather than later."
After a long silence, Gabriel says, dryly, "Well, it's not the first long shot I've taken. I'll discuss it with Regan tonight to be sure she has no objection, but Vincent -- go ahead and sign me up."
("I really wouldn't recommend that.")
It's been seven years since he'd made the trip to the Border and Rim planets to check on the progress of the IIGA - over his doctor's strenuous objections.
("Are you listening to me, Gabriel? This could kill you!")
He hadn't listened to Navarro or to Regan, but he had listened to Simon. He'd kept his promise to take care of himself as best he could, and he'd heeded Regan's warnings and trusted her judgment on what limits were needed.
It had worked. Sort of. But only in part.
It's been three years, now, since his health truly began to decline. A year ago, he'd started making the plans that neither he nor Regan wanted to talk about, but which they both knew were necessary - updating his will, settling financial assets into various trusts and annuities for Regan and their children, all the little details.
He's served almost two complete terms as the Senator from Osiris. Barring a miracle - which he doesn't deserve and doesn't expect - he knows he won't live to see a third.
Then, six months ago, Navarro had called.
"I won't lie to you, Gabriel. It's a high-risk trial. Higher than I'd usually recommend to one of my patients. Except --"
"Except that I'm measuring out my time in weeks, right?" He'd chuckled, breaking the awkward pause. "Go on, Vincent. I'm listening."
"Most treatments for your condition focus on neosteroid medications, or modifications to them. This one is taking a more biological approach. They're proposing to change the way your lungs absorb oxygen through the alveolar surfaces. If it works ... it should compensate for the scarring, and your damaged lung capacity."
"And if it doesn't?"
"Then you could lose the ability to absorb oxygen at all... sooner rather than later."
After a long silence, Gabriel says, dryly, "Well, it's not the first long shot I've taken. I'll discuss it with Regan tonight to be sure she has no objection, but Vincent -- go ahead and sign me up."
