"RJ."
RJ woke with a start and switched on the light on his nightstand to find a cloaked figure beside his bed.
"Who... who are you?"
"Is that any way to greet..."
The person pulled off the cloak.
"... your father?"
RJ stared in shock and disbelief.
"D-dad?"
Master Finn smiled.
"Hello, son."
RJ leaped to his feet and threw his arms around his father.
"Oh, Dad."
Master Finn hugged his son back.
"Everyone's really worried about you. You need to snap out of it."
"Dad, I need you."
The Shark Master pulled back.
"No, you don't, RJ. You haven't needed me for a few years now, and besides, you have your friends now."
"But, Dad,..."
His father stopped him.
"RJ, you don't need me to protect you anymore. You've already shown me on several occasions that you can take care of yourself, and you have your friends with you. You don't need me anymore."
"Yes, I do."
Master Finn shook his head.
"No, you don't. You've been holding your own for a few years now, proving that you don't need me anymore."
"But,..."
The Shark Master stopped his son once again.
"RJ, my time is up, and you need to stay strong, hold your head up and live your life to its fullest. You're young and have the hope of a bright future, but only if you believe it and seek it."
The Wolf Master sighed.
"You're right, Dad. It just... hurts."
"I know, son. I know. It's going to hurt, but over time the pain will lessen. It'll be hard at first, but your friends will be there for you through it all."
RJ looked into his father's warm, chocolate brown eyes and sighed again.
"All right."
Master Finn smiled.
"Get some sleep, you need it."
RJ hugged his father one last time then got back in bed.
The last thing he heard before falling asleep was his father whispering softly by his ear, "I'm always with you."