"He'll try to," I vowed. "We'll all try. We don't leave people behind if we can help it. We'll do everything we can. All of us will."

Those baby blues were still ocean puddles. His lashes had darkened, extending beneath the weight of his tears, fluttering pathetically as he tried to blink back the budding flood. He seemed as helpless as a fly caught in a spider's web.

"Your daddy is a big boy, kid. He'll be fine. Besides, until then, you get to play with Lou. Isn't that fun?"

I wasn't sure how fine Axe would be. My gut instinct warned me that he'd be as far from fine...