'...always hungry.' John could still hear his son's words and he could see that look, those hopeful eyes, like Nicholas thought his father could do something, anything, to make him better. That he thought that somehow, his dad could take the pain and the hunger away.

He pitied his son that blind faith in one's father. There was a time that he had mourned for the loss of faith in his own father, but after Nicholas was born, he understood that no man could live up to the adoration placed upon them by their children. Now, when his own son needed him most, John knew that there was little he could do to help. Discipline wouldn't cut it.

He swept into the kitchen, popped open a beer, and chugged it back. John didn't cope well with failure. When you had a job to complete, success was the only option. Yet no matter how he looked at the problem, he couldn't see a way to help his son – not any method that he would have previously considered. The boy was scared. He was eating non-stop, talking to imaginary friends, and at the same time, Nicholas was just as mortified by his own decline as his parents were worried about it.

John cast himself back into his armchair, and took another swallow of beer. A commercial for a local car dealership interrupted the preseason match as it went into the second quarter. John shut his eyes and tried to escape from the stress that tore at him. He might have to listen to Emily; he might have to let her take the boy to Brynn Marr. He hated to admit that – he'd have to think of some excuse, some way of making sure it came across as his idea, not an acquiescence to her. Giving ground would be a mistake. He wouldn't let her have that.

"John?"

He sighed. "Yes, Em?"

"How'd it go?"

Like shit, he thought. The boy's screwed. Something's loose upstairs and there isn't a damn thing we can do about it. Of course the truth hurt. Emily didn't need that.

"It went great, hon," he said. "We'll get this worked out. I promise." No need for any more detail until he could figure out how to get his son seen without Emily gloating. Plus he'd have to find some way to do it quietly. If Nicholas saw a shrink, no one needed to know. It needed to stay a private concern – family only.

"So he's going to what, diet? Do extra chores? Exercise?"

"I told you he's going to be fine. I've got it covered."

John swigged from his beer again. Em needed to leave him alone already.

"Yeah, but how?"

"Christ, Em! Just let me be."

"Don't raise your voice. He'll hear."

"Em, enough. Can you stop pestering for five seconds? I just want to watch the game."

"Okay." Emily raised her hands in surrender, then turned and fled. John could hear her footfalls, slow and heavy as she retreated down the hall. Finally their bedroom door slammed behind her and the house returned to silence – all save for the gentle buzz of the TV.

John smirked. I'm going to pay for that tonight. He glanced about spotting an afghan flung over the back of the couch. He leaned over, grabbed it and a small pillow and yanked them both back into his chair. He and the armchair had a long night ahead of themselves. Mentally exhausted, he closed his eyes and drifted off.