Disclaimer: Not mine.
A/N: Daryl Worley was very helpful with this one and it is a sort of fanfic to his If Something Should Happen.
"You okay?"
He's looking out the window, hands in his pockets.
"Fin?"
He doesn't turn and for a moment I think he might not answer me. "I have to have surgery."
"What's wrong?" Now he's starting to scaring me. Surgery? He was one of the fittest guys I knew, what the hell?
"Same thing my dad had." He continues to stare out the window, hands still in his pockets. I don't know what to say. "I'm scared," he says quietly, scaring me all over again.
"Is it something to be afraid of? I mean, is it a big surgery?" He's quiet. "Fin?"
He shrugs. "My dad died from it, must be bad, right?"
I open my mouth to say something when he cuts in before I even say anything.
"Listen, if somethin' happens... visit Catherine, okay? You and your wise ass jokes always keep her laughin'. And bring Mary Ann. She loves her. Take her out for dinner or a movie, anythin'. If somethin' happens... it'll take her awhile before she's back on her feet." He doesn't sound like himself and I'm worried. Fin doesn't get scared. Fin just goes and does it. I guess that's what being a father does to you.
"Fin-"
"And I know you hate football, but if somethin' happens... throw the ball around with Nathan. I was supposed to coach his team this fall. Take him campin' or somethin'. Fishin' out on the river. He's gonna be ten... answer any questions he has, arright? Maybe... maybe when he's old enough, you can sit and have that first beer with him. Tell him a coupla stories 'bout me. Tell him 'bout the crazy things we did. He's always known you're my best friend."
He's really starting to scare me now, but he just keeps talking, all the while staring out that window.
"I hope I live until I'm eighty and I get to see my son get married. I hope I get to be a grandfather, but if somethin' happens... could you watch over them for me?" He finally turns and looks me straight in the eye.
"Could you?" he repeats.
"You're goin' to be fine. Nothing's gonna happen."
"Could you?" he repeats again.
I look at him, the pain in his eyes. "Fin-"
"I knew you would be stubborn. I knew it." He turns away again.
"I'm not being stubborn, I just don't want to think about you leaving this all behind. You should be taking care of Catherine and Nathan, not me."
He doesn't respond and I know he didn't really want a fight or an argument or anything of the sort. I hear him muttering something and I step up beside him.
"You know I'd do it, Fin. In a heartbeat."