Angel

By: Riley

Summary - It's not always the firefighters that have to deal with a tragedy. The families are hurt too. [Set after Real Never Waits]. Short one-shot.

"Daddy? I don't want you to go!" I whimpered, looking up at my Dad as he pulled on his jacket, getting ready to go to work again. He was a firefighter, he had visited my class once for show and tell and for every 'career day'. I love my daddy but I'm scared that he won't come back from work one day. Mommy told me that it was possible. It scared me. The idea of not being able to see my daddy anymore.

Daddy smiled and ruffled my hair, the way he always did to make me feel better. I was his Angel, he always called me that. Every time I greeted him at the door each day or whenever I was scared of sleeping or a thunderstorm or of those creepy crawly spiders. He would always protect me. He promised he'd protect his Angel.

"Everything's going to be ok, sweetie," Daddy said.

I moved forward and clung onto his leg, looping up at him. "You're going to come back, are you?" I said in a tiny voice. Every day Daddy came back safe, but what would happen if he didn't come back?

"I'm going to come back, Angel," Daddy said. He picked me up and kissed my forehead. "Don't worry." He set me on the floor and patted my butt. "Now go to school and make your daddy an beautiful picture for him to hang on his wall at work, okay?" he smiled at me.

Indignantly, I placed my hands on my hips, cheeks puffing out. Daddy laughed at me. I always liked to hear him laugh. He didn't do it a lot. Mommy says he was always stressed out because of his job. "Promise?"

Daddy bent down and kissed me on the head again. I wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug. He sort of smelled like smoke. I don't like that smell. "I promise," he said.

I smiled up at Daddy and he smiled back, his eyes shining. I have my Daddy's eyes.

"Okay, Daddy!" I hugged him once more. "I love you."

"I love you too, Angel."

That was the last time that I heard Daddy's voice, and the last time he called me Angel. Mommy said that there was an explosion and that Daddy wasn't going to come home anymore. I cried and cried and my brothers cried too. I wanted my Daddy back. But it was OK, Mommy told me that he's up in heaven now, watching over us and making sure that we were safe.

Daddy is safe.

Mommy told me that that now Daddy was my Angel and I was still his. She said that he would always be there to take care of me. I just wish he was still here to take care of us all of us. Mom is tired with the new baby, but Grandma and Grandpa are helping a lot.

Mommy kisses me for Daddy now. She hugs me for Daddy too. It's not the same. But that's OK as long as I know my Daddy's watching me.

Now whenever people ask me what I want to be when I grow up, I smile, knowing my Dad is listening and hears me when I say that I'm going t be a firefighter.

Just like my Daddy.

A/N: I got the idea after watching the season finale and wondering what would happen to Herrmann's family if he died in that fire. And I thought the point of view from his (unnamed) daughter would be good.

I hope you all liked it.

Cheers,

-Riles