Apologies for the wait, but college has to come before pleasure.

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Charlie burns was sitting outside of a pair of white double doors. His face buried in his hands, as he awaited the outcome of his youngest son; who was just inside those forbidding double doors.

In all his years of parenting, even through the multiple trips to the emergency room with Kade; he was never this afraid of losing his child. Cody was so young, and so innocent, that it was killing the man to know that he couldn't protect his son from this pain.

"Mr. Burns?"

Charlie looked up, and saw a surgeon walk out of the doors. The man was still in his surgical garb, and moved his face mask, so that it rested on his neck.

The police chief cleared his throat and stood. "Yes." He managed, but he saw the look of pity on the other man's face.

"Sir, I know that this may be difficult." The man began, knitting his hands together as he paused for a moment. "But we may be facing the very real possibility of losing your son."

The greying police chief's hand flew to his mouth, and he turned his head to the side; those words playing over and over in his head.

Cody was dying

"Even if he makes it though this surgery, we'll be walking on eggshells to keep him with us." The man finished.

Silent tears streaked down his face, as he took a ragged breath and looked back at the surgeon that had come out of the operating room. "Thank you informing me." Charlie felt like he was squeezing out every word; that every syllable was taking what hope he had left, with it.

The man silently nodded, seeing the obvious pain that the other man was in, and walked back through the double doors.

Kade, Graham, and Dani looked up as their father entered the room. They rushed over to him, missing the obvious signs of the news to come.

"Dad, how's Cody?"

"Did the surgery go alright?"

"When can we take Cody home."

Charlie put his hand up, to silence his three children. "Sit down." He told them, keeping his voice as level as he could.

"Dad, what's going on?" Dani exclaimed, as she watched her father ease himself into a chair. He seemed to have aged 30 years since she saw him.

The police chief closed his eyes, and took a deep breath before looking up a the three expecting faces before him.
"I just spoke with one of the surgeons." He began, but his voice cracked, as he continued. "He told me th... that..." A hand flew to his mouth again, as he squeezed his eyes shut; trying to prevent himself from breaking down in front of his kids.

A feeling, like molten iron, settled in Kade, Graham, and Dani's stomachs as they looked at their father; praying that he wasn't going to say what they were all thinking.

Kade spoke up first. "Dad... Is Cody dead?" He whispered, tears streaming down his face as he desperately looked at his father; silently pleading for him to tell him that he was wrong.

Charlie took a deep breath, and looked at his red-headed son. "No." He breathed, and watched their faces relax. "But the surgeon told me that we are facing the very real possibility of losing him tonight."

All three of the Burns children gasped, as they stared at their father.

"NO!" Dani exclaimed, jumping up and sprinting towards the operating room as her vision was blurred by her tears.

However, she didn't get far, when she felt strong arms wrap around her waist and pull her into a muscled chest. She turned her head, and caught a flash of red hair.

"Let me go Kade!" Dani shouted, as she tried to get free from his strong grasp.

"No Dani." Her eldest brother shouted back at her. "You know that you can't go back there!"

This only made Dani fight harder, her vision blurring more as she attempted to get out of his grasp. "Cody's dying." She screamed.

"We know!" He shouted as his sister beat on his chest, trying to get away from him. "But if you go back there, you'll only be in the way, and the surgeons won't be able to help him. Is that what you want?!"

Dani started sobbing, still beating her arms against Kade's chest. "Cody's dying." She muttered, as she ceases her fighting.

Kade shifted his grasp on his baby sister, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders; rocking her from side to side as they both fell to their knees. "We know, we know." He whispered, as Dani buried her face in his shoulder and let out gut-wrenching sobs.