"Emery, wake up." Erin says gently shaking her daughter.
"What time is it?" Emery says with a moan.
"It's ten in the morning. We have something we need to talk to you about. Meet us downstairs in the living room ok." She says in a sincere tone.
Emery gets out of bed and goes straight into the bathroom as Erin leaves. Emery had no idea how much this day was going to change her life. Erin walks into the living room where the men are sitting, she looks at the two of them and she senses their fears.
"She'll be right down." Erin says sitting on the couch next to Hank.
They sit in silence for about five minutes before Emery comes down the stairs.
"What did I do?" Emery asks sitting next to her mom.
"Nothing. Why did you do something we should be mad about?" Dylan asks.
"No." Emery says with a smirk.
"Listen baby there is something your father has to tall you and it is going to be hard to hear." Erin says grabbing her hand.
"Okay." She says confused.
Emery looks at her father who is having a really hard time finding the right words.
"Sweetie, I'm sick. I have cancer." Dylan says.
"Cancer is treatable nowadays. You're going to be ok. Right dad?" Emery says holding back the tears.
"I only have a little time left. The treatments won't work. It's too far advanced." Dylan says.
Emery looks at her dad in disbelief as tears stream down her face. She starts to ball, she turns and buries her face in her mother's shoulder. Erin rubs her daughters back trying to comfort her, as Dylan thinks of what he's going to say next.
"How long?" Emery finally says through the sobs.
"Six months at the most. You're going to stay here until college starts and then your mother and grandfather are going to come get you." Dylan says.
"But that's only three months from now." Emery says puzzled.
"I don't want you to see me in pain. The last three months I have will be spent in the hospital so they can control my pain." Dylan says.
Emery takes off up the stairs and Erin follows closely behind. When she gets to Emery's room she finds her daughter throwing clothes into a duffle bag.
"What are you doing?" Erin asks her very distraught daughter.
"I am not staying here and watching him die. I am going back to Chicago with you." She says.
"Emery he needs you right now." Erin says.
"I can't watch him die mom." Emery says breaking down in her mother's arms.
"If you don't stay and spend this time with him you're going to regret it for the rest of your life." She says hugging her.
"Do you have to go home today?" She asks.
"Your father wants to spend time with just you. As much as I'd like to stay here to make sure you're ok. I think it's best if I go home. I'll come visit on the weekends and if you need me call me." Erin says brushing her daughter's hair behind her ear.
Emery nodded her head and followed her mother back downstairs. When she saw her dad she ran to him and hugged him tightly.
"I love you so much and I am so very sorry." Dylan says kissing the top of her head.
They all sit and talk for a while and around noon Hank gets a call.
"Hey kid it looks like I have to go. I'm sorry." Hank says.
"It's ok gramps. I understand. Love you." She says giving him a hug.
"I love you too." He says.
"I'm guessing that means you have to go to." Emery says turning to her mom.
Erin looks at Dylan, than hank, and finally back at her daughter. She didn't want to lie to her daughter but she also didn't want her knowing the truth.
"Yeah I guess I should." Erin says with a smile.
Emery says good bye to her mother and grandfather at the door. Then she heads for the kitchen as the adults talk.
"Call me if you need me." Hank says.
"You can call me too." Erin says.
"Thank you both. I couldn't have told her by myself. Bye see you both soon." Dylan says closing the door.
"Erin I'm giving you on last chance to have your badge back. You have to stop all of this right now." Hank says walking her to her car.
"I don't want it back." Erin says getting into her car and driving away.
Emery went upstairs and curled up in a ball and cried for a few hours. She didn't come out of her room for the rest of the night. She was trying to prepare herself for what was to come. She also couldn't stop thinking about all the things her dad was going to miss out on in her life. Like her wedding and when she had kids of her own. She couldn't deal with seeing him at least that night.