"How're you feeling?"
James McCloud closed the door behind him and sunk into the chair next to his son.
"Fine, I guess," Fox replied, shifting slightly in his bed. "It doesn't hurt as much anymore."
James smirked. "Ah, the things we do."
Fox glanced down to the end of the bed and stared at the stark white sheets that lay flat against the mattress. It was still hard for him to believe it. He'd known it was coming for a while now. For his whole life, really. But it felt so different now. So real. And he was reminded of it every so often by a sharp ache just below each of his knees.
"The pain won't last too long. I promise."
Fox shrugged
"This'll be worth it in the end. Maybe it doesn't seem like it now. But it will be. This is what it's all about," James said. "Sacrifice."
"What do you mean, exactly?" Fox asked.
"Well, like the team, I mean. They're like my family. I'd do anything for them."
"You really mean anything?"
"Well, sure. If it came down to it," James began, his voice lowering, "I would die for them."
Fox looked up at his father with a frown.
"Why that face? You must understand why I'd have to do it. I'm the leader, after all."
Fox nodded meekly, slumping into the bed.
"You know what?" James continued, "That's gonna be you one day, too."
Fox's drowsy eyes brightened as a slight grin formed across his face. "You think so? You think I'll be on the team too?"
James nodded, beaming. "I guarantee it."