Title: The Hardest Thing.
Author: Therm
Rating: PG
Summary: Murdock has a difficult task ahead of him.
Warnings: Bit mushy. Sorry.

Murdock took a deep, unsteady breath, letting the oxygen fill his lungs, hoping it would calm him somewhat.

It didn't seem to help. Nothing did. This was just too hard. Too damn hard. He closed his eyes, tried to block out the pain for a moment, not let it overwhelm him. Even knowing B.A was right there with him, just outside didn't help; couldn't help. He wasn't sure there was any cure for this sort of pain, maybe it was just too crippling to ever truly get over.
He closed his eyes for a moment, tried to gather what strength he could.

He knew it was time. He looked down, those eyes looking up at him, full of trust and love. It wasn't right; it was too hard for him to do. But he knew he had to, knew it was for the best.

"C'mon." He said gently taking a few steps forward.

There was a door just ahead of him, it was closed and he could hear a ladies voice from inside.
He stopped, looked in through the glass and saw the lady there, talking to someone he couldn't see from the angle.
He wasn't sure about this, even though he knew it was right. B.A had driven him here purposely to make sure he did it, didn't try to duck out from his responsibilities.
This was it, there was nowhere else to go. Slowly he bent his knees until he was looking into those sweet, trusting eyes. The ones full of hope.

"Okay, this is it." Murdock said, voice full of dread for what he had to do now. "Ready?"

The small head nodded, slightly nervous but eyes so alive. "Ready, daddy."

"Are you sure, baby?"

"I wanna." She said, simply, craning her neck to look into the room, able to see all the children already seated in the classroom.

"You first day." Murdock said, thinking about how it seemed only weeks ago that he cradled the baby in his arms. "You're my big girl now. Daddy loves you. Now, I'll be right here waiting for you when you've finished, 'kay?"

"Okay, daddy. Can I go in now?"

"Sure sweetie." Murdock knocked on the door and then opened it, watching as the teacher smiled warmly as the little girl came bounding into the room.

The teacher looked at Murdock and smiled, nodding slightly, telling him she'd be fine here. That she'd look after her.
Murdock pulled the door closed and watched through the glass as his tiny little girl stood at the front of the classroom while the teacher introduced her to the other children. Then he saw go and choose a seat and smile at the little girl she had sat next to, already starting to talk to her.
God she'd have a lot of friends, he could just tell.

But letting her go; that was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do.

-The End-