Disclaimer: I do not own Metal Gear or any of it's characters.

Hal was a statue: his heart had froze, his lungs had seized, and a funny static had filled his head. He could see Julie; her lipstick smudged mouth was flapping, but nothing came out, and she was running in all her post-coitus glory, clad in only a t-shirt and panties. A sick feeling wrestled in the bottom of his stomach – some dread – rose up in his throat like vomit, and suddenly Julie's words were pouring into his ears like water: "Emma! Emma! Emma!"

Hal wretched – once, twice, then doubled over with spit dribbling down his chin. This is your fault! said some sinister voice in the back of his head, and he choked again. His stomach was a balloon, ready to pop. Emma was dying, his father was dying, the world was dying and it was Hal's fault. His knees became weak, and he collapsed on the porch. Tears spilled out, and he bit back a sob. Useless! Useless! that voice taunted him, and goosebumps danced across his skin despite it being 80 degrees outside; who doesn't tremble at the sight of death, after all?

Julie was still screaming her daughter's name, and he could hear the tell-tale bang! of Julie throwing open the pool deck gate. She stumbled up those damp steps, almost slipping, then threw herself at the poolside. She grabbed a hold of Emma's (graying, cold, limp) arm and dragged her body out of the pool, into her lap, still screaming desperately, nonsensically. She held Emma, squeezing her body close, and rocked back and forth, sobs bubbling out of her, and Hal felt disgust ooze up in him – disgust at Julie, disgust at Huey, disgust at himself, because it was their faults; Emma was real the victim here.

Hal didn't move. Even when the ambulance showed up, Hal didn't move, couldn't move. The paramedics voices were garbled goop, pouring into his head like molasses, and he just kept shaking his head because he didn't understand, he didn't want to understand. There was a loud splashing, and Hal's head snapped up, eyes widening. Two paramedics had lugged his father's body out of the water, and laid him out on the grass before they started CPR on him. His skin had become ashen gray, with a slight tinge of blue and bloat, his mouth stuck in a perfect "O" shape and he was limp, even limper than Emma was, and it was then that Hal knew his father was dead because vomit spilled out from his own mouth, spattering onto the patio beneath his feet. The other paramedics gaped at Hal, then rushed forward to check him. Their eyes said it all: You poor thing! Your father's dead, your sister's dying, your stepmother is in hysterics! Let us help you!

Pity was at the bottom of Hal's necessity list, so he ducked back into the house, snapping the lock into place. He paused, waiting to see if the paramedics would try to break in somehow, but when he saw they wouldn't, he let out a shaky breath. Hal fell to the floor, and started to bawl helplessly, even after Julie and the ambulance and E.E. and his father's body had left. While he may be powerless to change anything else, he still had power over his emotions, and so Hal let himself sob late into the night.

Julie did come back eventually, about an hour or so after Hal had finally stopped crying. Hal had taken up root on the couch, eyes glazed over as he watched some dumb late now show when Julie came walking through the door at 11:25PM. Her eyes flicked to him disinterest, then grew wide in shock as she gasped. "Hal!" she sputtered. "I didn't see you!" Her voice had an edge, like she was getting ready to scold him, but she didn't. Instead, she plopped down on their couch next to him, letting out a sigh.

"..Hal, I want you to know none of this is your fault. It's not either of our faults." Julie sounded like she didn't quite believe herself; neither did Hal. She spoke slow and deliberate:

"Emma's okay, but she has to stay in the hospital for a few days." Hal jerked up, eyes locking on Julie's. "She's okay?!" he blurted out. Julie nodded slowly, and Hal couldn't keep the grin off his face. It must've been contagious, because a little smile worked its way onto Julie's face too.

"Huey, however..." Julie's voice dropped off, and she ducked her head. If Hal hadn't known better, he would've thought she was about to sob over her lost husband; but Hal knew Julie better than anyone else, so he could hear the sound of relief in her voice as she spoke: "He knew about us, Hal. I guess he just couldn't take it." She shook her head, clicking her tongue disapprovingly. Hal said nothing, only watching as she began to fiddle with her wedding ring, sliding it on and off as though she couldn't decide to keep it, or rid herself of it completely.

She gave him a gentle smile, suddenly, and Hal felt her tender, well-manicured nail creep up his thigh. He could feel her eyes piercing him, but he refused to look. Not tonight, not tonight. he thought. "I'm gonna be spending a few nights at the hospital, with Emma," she murmured, honey dripping from her voice. "Would you like to come, Hal?"

And Hal struggled with his response. He was never good at turning her down; it was how all this started in the first place. But something had changed in him today, and for the first time, he found his backbone. Hal looked up, locked eyes with Julie, and deadpanned: "No." Her brows flew up in surprise, her mouth dropped open, and she sputtered for a moment. However, her walls were quickly rebuilt, and she sighed, like he was a disobedient little boy and not a near adult. She snatched her hand back, and quickly strutted across the room and stomped up the staircase. Some minutes passed before she clomp clomp clomped her way back down, an overnight bag slung over her shoulders. She fixed him with a funny look.

"Last chance, Hal." Her voice was very matter-of-fact, very demanding; Hal couldn't help but be a little offended by her tone. He shook his head again, pretending he didn't see her sniff at him angrily before making her exit. She slammed the door behind herself, dislodging a picture frame off the wall.

Hal disentangled himself from the couch, and went to grab it off the floor when he stopped, wide-eyed. A picture of Emma, bright-eyed with a big grin while she held an armful of wild flowers, lay on the floor; the glass was cracked directly in the middle of her face. It was a few years old, but that didn't stop it from making Hal's stomach flip. No matter what Julie said, it was Hal's fault; he didn't stop Julie, he kept having sex with her, and it made his father kill himself. It made your father try to kill Emma, too! tacked on his inner voice, and his vision swam.

"I have to leave." His voice came out weak, wavering. No one was around to hear his declaration, and for once, Hal was happy to be alone.

The following morning, Hal caught the first bus out of town. He hadn't left a note for Julie, but was sure she'd figure it out. Besides, Emma would be better off without him. She would be safe this way, she could grow up normal, and Hal felt that there was nothing more important than that.

After spending the last of his teen years bouncing around from job to job, Hal graduated from college. Eventually, he became Dr. Hal Emmerich, and eventually got hired on for a pretty big project. He wasn't sure of the details, but it was exciting anyway...until Hal found out he was making a war machine. It all ended up okay, however, because a legendary soldier named Solid Snake showed up and destroyed it. After that, however, Hal was blacklisted for being involved in the project, however unwilling he had been. He laid low for awhile, but eventually met up with Solid Snake again, and they decided to form an anti-metal gear group called Philanthropy. Despite its dangers, it was a simple, happy life.

"Letter for you," Dave grunted, tossing a beat up envelope onto his lap. Hal looked up, still groggy with sleep. "A letter? For me?" he parroted in disbelief. Dave grunted affirmative, lighting up his morning cigarette. "I went to check the mail this morning, it was the only thing sittin' in there. I'd be careful, if I was you."

"Oh? You can get all the mail you want, and I can't get even on measly letter?" Hal teased, tearing open the envelope.

"Expecting fan-mail?"

"As much as you are." Both men laughed, returning to their own routines: Dave went out to feed the dogs, Hal went back to his bowl of Lucky Charms.

Hal tugged the crinkled paper out from its shell, unfolding it as he took a sip from his coffee...then spit it out all over the table. He glanced up, to make sure Dave was really gone, because he would've give him hell for making a mess. But he was gone. Hal gulped, and glanced down at the letter again

Dear Hal,

Have you been getting my letters? I'm not sure, because you haven't been responding. How has everything been going? We've missed you, you know. Emma's still upset with you, she acts like she hates you, but I hear her cry at night, sometimes. By the way, she doesn't swim anymore, won't even go near a pool! I've tried to get her help for it, but I don't think it's making any progress.

I don't blame you for leaving, you know. I think if I was in your shoes, I might've done the same thing. Why don't you come to visit? Emma would love to see you! We could show you all the great thing Britain has to offer!

Please, write back soon! It was so hard to find your address!

Sincerely,
Julie

P.S. I was thinking about getting Emma a bird. Wouldn't that be the cutest thing?

Hal's eyes flew open as he woke with a start, memories from his past constantly haunted him. A pair of big violet eyes stared at him with concern. He sat up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Emma had been in the hospital for about a week and Hal hardly left her side. Emma was more or asleep most of the time.

After Vamp had stabbed Emma Snake and Raiden were able to save her life. Once the worm cluster was downloaded they had to act quickly. Hal held Emma as Snake cut her open. Raiden had heated a survival knife so they could cauterize the wound and stop the internal bleeding. They stitched up with a sewing kit they had on hand. They got out as fast as they could after that.

Emma was brought to a hospital as fast as they were able to get her there. If it wasn't for Snake's and Raiden's quick thinking Emma could have died. The doctors made sure that she was stable and gave her antibiotics in case of infection. Hal didn't know what he would have done if Emma had died.

"Hal are you alright?" Emma asked. He looked like he hadn't slept in days Emma couldn't help, but to be worried. She had been watching him sleep and it seemed like he was having a bad dream. She had a pretty good feeling she knew what it was about.

"I'm fine E.E. it's you I'm worried about. Are you in pain, should I get a nurse?" Hal said. He was relieved to see Emma awake. He didn't want her in any pain though, she had already been through so much. Emma just shook her head in reply.

"Arsenal Gear, did we stop it?" Emma asked. She remember uploading the worm cluster and everything being in chaos. She also remembered Hal's words to her. She didn't want to think about that right now though.

"Yeah, we stopped it. I'm going to get a nurse anyways, maybe you'll be able to leave. I've got a room for you at my place." Hal told her. He left the room on a mission.

Emma watched as Hal left. She wanted to be able to get out of the hospital as soon as possible. It seemed like she would only be awake for a few minutes and a nurse would come in to give her something to sleep. Emma was sick of sleeping. Her side hurt, but she was sure she could manage it. She wasn't sure about staying with Hal though. His words still wrung in her ears and were just as painful as the wound in her side. It was better than the alternative though. There was no way she would go back to her mother's.