The heaviness of the situation really starts to hit him when Stephen pulls him close, and he has to fight the onslaught of tears threatening to escape. He swallows hard, afraid to speak, afraid that if he opens his mouth, what will come out will be sobs. If he starts crying, he doesn't know if he'll ever be able to stop.

"How long?" he finally manages to croak after what seems like ages of silence. He isn't sure if he's asking how long Stephen can stay or how long he's got left to live, and he feels a rush of selfishness, of jealousy toward Meredith. Why should she get to have Stephen's last moments? She doesn't love him, not like Kyle.

But then he thinks of Gia and Katie, and remembers the pain of losing his own parents. Only it'll be magnified by a thousand because the girls are much closer to their father and have more memories. They deserve Stephen's last moments, even more so than him.

He swallows again, trying to control the shakiness of his voice as he clarifies "How long do I have you?"