“Is that why you’re a detective? You wanted to be one of the good guys?”

“Well, yeah. But I also wanted to help people. I think a good detective can change someone’s life for the better. There are some things worth fighting for, like you’re gonna fight the Empire.”

“I’m glad you’re a good guy, Daddy.”

Nate kissed the top of Josh’s head. “Me too, Josh.” Josh’s bottom lip was wobbling. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

Josh burst into tears. “I don’t want to die!”

“Oh, Josh.” Nate wrapped his arms around him, pulling him closer.

Emma came in just at that moment. She dropped a backpack on the floor and rushed to Josh. There wasn’t room for the three of them in the narrow hospital bed, so Nate stood, allowing her to scoop Josh into her arms.

“I don’t want to be in mud! I won’t be able to breathe!” Josh’s voice inched up an octave.

Nate looked at Emma, hollow-eyed with helplessness.

“Shhh.” Emma spoke to Josh in low, soothing tones while all Nate could do was stand next to them feeling cold and alone, afraid he’d messed up somehow, said the wrong thing.

Emma clutched Josh to her, her strong, jutting chin clenched. “You’re not going to die. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Do you hear me? I am not going to let you die.”

Eventually Josh’s sobs subsided and he fell asleep. Nate watched his wife stroking Josh’s hair, the movement strangely hypnotizing. He thought suddenly of one of their first dates. He’d dated a lot by the time he met Emma. It was easy for him to meet women. He was handsome and charming, confident, with an easy smile. Girls loved that shit. But there was always something missing.

Until Emma.

He’d spent hours cooking that day, trying to impress her. But as soon as she arrived, her hospital pager had gone off, notifying her that a patient had died. She’d been a resident at the time and off duty. But she’d grabbed her coat and slid her shoes back on.

“I have to go to the hospital,” she’d said. “Her daughter has nobody to grieve with.”

The humanity in those words, how much Emma cared, took Nate by surprise.

“I’ll go with you,” he said.

He’d stayed late into the night, watching this woman he’d just met as she comforted a stranger. He’d fallen in love with her then.

“I can’t watch someone I love die again,” she whispered to him now, her voice wobbly.

“Dr. Palmer, he seems like he knows his stuff,” Nate said, trying to stay upbeat. “We have to trust that, right?”

Emma plopped down next to him on the couch, dropping her head onto his chest. Nate wrapped his arms around her.