The Greens of Jericho

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the television show Jericho or any part of it. The characters are not mine in any way. I am just borrowing them for a bit. I am not affiliated with CBS, the television show Jericho or the writers of Jericho.     I am also not affiliated in any way with J.K. Rowling or Harry Potter....their just personal favorites of mine.

Special thanks and credit goes to Marzee.   I wouldn't have been able to finish this one without her.   She is wonderful!


******************************************

It was the dead of the night.   The only light was the moon and stars.    The back yard of the Green house was washed in shadows.    Jacob was wide awake.   He had been reading a vampire horror comic and he couldn't sleep.    He had heard his dad and Heather come in a couple of hours earlier and had been tempted to go downstairs but didn't.   His knew his dad would be really mad if he found out about the horror comics.    So here he sat at 3:30 am looking out the window into the backyard holding  the St. Michael medal around his neck, just in case a vampire came.     Suddenly he saw a shadow move.    There was a man crossing the backyard.   It was just too much, Jacob raced out of the bedroom and down the stairs.    He ran into his father and Heather's bedroom.  

Jake and Heather never imagined anyone would come running into their bedroom at 3:30 am without knocking.    They hadn't bothered to lock the door when they came in.

There were three separate gasps of shock.    Jacob turned around and ran back up the stairs, got into bed and pulled the covers over his head....dying from embarrassment.   The man in the backyard and any thoughts of vampires forgotten for the moment.

Jake entered his son's bedroom pulling on a t-shirt.   He closed the door and stood beside the bed looking down at the unmoving lump that was his child.   "What in the Hell do you think you think you're doing? he whispered loudly.   "You are old enough to know better than to go into someone's bedroom without knocking."

Jacob slowly uncovered his head.    He was still beet red, "I'm sorry, Dad."

"What are you doing awake at 3:30 in morning?" Jake said looking around the room.   His eyes landed on "Vampires Everywhere" on the window seat.   He walked over a picked it up.    "Oh, I see.   You've scared yourself to death.    I thought these things were gone?    Where did you get another one?"

"I'm sorry, Dad.   I didn't know you were.... I mean I didn't mean to.... I'm sorry."

"Why did you come running into the bedroom in the middle of the night.   If there's a reason, I won't be mad."

Jacob sat there a minute without speaking, "There was a man in the backyard.   I saw him in the shadows."

Jake looked at Jacob and shook his head, "There was no man outside.   You read this thing (waving the comic in the air) and scared yourself silly.   Tomorrow you're gonna show me where you keep getting these things and we're going to burn them.    Do you understand?   Now lay down and go to sleep."

Jake left the bedroom shaking his head.    Heather was waiting at the foot of the stairs.

"Is everything alright?"

"Everything's fine.   He read something that scared him and now swears there is a vampire outside in the backyard," Jake said.  He showed her the comic, "He's gonna show me where these things are and we're burning them."

Heather giggled nervously.   There was just enough light coming in the windows for Jake to see she was blushing.     She leaned into Jake and moaned embarrassedly, "I can't believe that just happened."

"He's just as embarrassed as we are.    I don't think Dracula getting ready to bite him could get him out of bed at night again.    Let's go to bed before we wake the parental units up."                

**************************************

On the way downstairs the following morning Johnston heard Jacob moving around in his bedroom.   It was earlier than Jacob usually woke up.   Johnston's radar went up.   Something was going on.    He knocked on the door and went in.    Jacob was coming out of his closet.

"You're up early.  Whatcha doin?" Johnston asked.

"Just puttin some things in the closet," Jacob said.

"Since you're up anyway why don't you come on outside with me keep me company."

"OK"

Jacob slid his feet in his shoes and followed Johnston down the stairs.    The clock on the mantel showed it was 7:30 am.    Johnston liked to sit on the backporch swing with his morning coffee and relax before starting his day.    Jacob sat down in the swing beside him.

Jacob looked at Johnston's mug, "Can I have some?"

Johnston handed it to him, "That's black coffee.   No sugar."   He couldn't believe an eight year old would drink black coffee.

"OK," Jacob said, yawning.   He took the mug and took a big drink.

When it became obvious the Johnston wasn't getting his mug back, he went and got himself another cup.

"So," Johnston said, settling back down in the swing, "what got you up so early this morning?   We're usually having to drag you out of bed at 9 am."

"Just wasn't sleepy I guess,"  Jacob said quietly.

"What would you be doing on a Saturday morning if you were in San Diego?"

Jacob smiled to himself while he thought about his answer.  

"Saturday was the best day.   That was the day that Dad was home.    I got to do stuff that Nana never let me do.   After practice we did all kinds of fun things."

"Your Dad wasn't home during the week?" Johnston asked.   This was the first information he had been able to get about Jake's time away.

"Sometimes he was but it was always really late when he got home.   Usually he was workin."

"What kind of practice did you go to?"

"Soccer, football, hockey and baseball."

"Jake wouldn't have been caught dead playing anything but baseball when he was a kid," Johnston thought.   He couldn't believe that Jake had Jacob playing a different sport for each season.     "Jake must have just loved being around all the crazy sports parents," he thought, shaking his head and chuckling.

"What kind of fun things did you do besides practice?" Johnston asked, still gently digging for information.

"Um....Dad let me have cheeseburgers, fries and Coke for breakfast.   Nana didn't like that.   We went to ball games, batting cages, video games at Uncle Freddy's.   I even got to play Grand Theft Auto til Miss Ana found out and made me turn it off. (Johnston raised his eyebrows at Grand Theft Auto and thought, "Thank God for Miss Ana, whoever she is.")   Dad was teaching me to surf too.  We was going to get a new wet suit when we got back home.    We always had In N Out Burgers for dinner.   I had a babysitter ever Saturday night and she let me watch scary movies.   It was fun,"  Jacob said, smiling.

"Sounds like you and your dad were best friends."

"Yeah, we were.   Grandpa, dad ain't fun no more."

"This poor confused child," Johnston thought, rubbing the back of Jacob's neck.  "Jake's made a mistake that Grandpa can't fix.   He's got to take care of this."

"You had a Nanny.  Why did you have a babysitter?"

"It was her day off.   Sara was usually home when we got back and Dad and her went on a date and I got a babysitter.   Mrs. Oliver let me do anything I wanted.   Saturday's were fun."

"Who the hell is Sara?   Was Jake married?" Johnston thought.

"What do you think about your dad and Heather?"

"I guess it's OK.  They like each other.   She's nice even though she makes me do school," Jacob said, taking a big breath.   "Grandpa....oh never mind."   Jacob looked down and started biting his bottom lip.

"What's eatin' at you, Jacob?" Johnston asked, stopping the swing.

"Do you think Heather's nice?"

"Yes, I do.   I think she's good for your dad and good for you too."

"Yeah, I guess.   Grandpa....I did something last night.   Dad's pretty mad at me."

"Good Lord, it can't be that bad.   What did you do?"

"I ran in Dad's bedroom and they were there but they weren't sleeping," Jacob said blushing.

"Is that all?" Johnston said, smiling and rubbing Jacob's head.   "I don't think anyone's mad at you.   It was an accident.   The door should've been locked.   Don't worry bout it."   Johnston decided it was time to change the subject, "Do you like to ride horses?"

"Yeah, I took riding lessons at home.   Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon."

"How bout I take you out to the ranch some afternoon.   We can go riding together?"

"Sure, Grandpa!" Jacob said with a wide grin.

*****************************************

Jake and Heather came into the kitchen together the next morning.    Gail was scrambling eggs.    

"Well, how was the date?   What did Bonnie fix?"

Jake could tell that Heather was about to bust but he couldn't help it....he had to tease his mother, "Dinner was pretty good.   Bonnie made steaks and pototoes.    We stopped off at Bailey's on the way home.     I hope Jacob wasn't too much of a problem."

Heather looked at Jake with excitement, "Jake, I can't stand it.   I've got to."

He laughed, "Go ahead.   You're both gonna bust if you don't."

Heather ran across the room and held out her left hand.   Gail threw her arms around her, "Oh, Honey, I was hoping but afraid to say anything."   She took Heather's hand in hers and looked at the ring.   "It's just perfect.   It fits you like it was made for you."  

Jake put his arms around Heather from behind, bent down and kissed her on the cheek, "I guess you figured it out, I proposed."

Gail pulled him into a hug and kissed his cheek, "Honey, I am so happy for you both.    I can't wait to tell your father.    He's out back with Jacob."

She opened the back door and motioned them in, "Breakfast and there's good news for a change."
 
Jacob didn't look Heather or Jake in the eye when he walked in.   He was still very embarrassed.    He silently slid into his seat.

Johnston washed his hands at the sink and looked back at them, "What good news?"

"Your son has proposed.   We get to plan a wedding!"

Johnston gave Heather a quick hug and smiled, "Congratulations."

Gail spooned scrambled eggs on everyone's plate.   She sensed tension in Jacob.    She reached over and laid her hand over his, "Honey, did you hear what I said?   Your dad and Heather are getting married.   Isn't that wonderful?   You'll finally have a mom."

He glanced up at Heather, blushed, and quietly said, "Yeah, that'll be great," Jacob said, pushing eggs around with his fork.   "I'm not hungry.   May I be excused?"

Gail frowned.   She could tell something was wrong but didn't know what it was, "Don't you want just a few bites?   You need to eat something."

"Gail, let him be.   He has a lot on his mind," Johnston said winking at Jacob, "Yes, Son, you may be excused."

Jacob glanced at Jake and Heather and made a hasty exit from the kitchen.

"What's up with him?" Gail asked, looking at Jake.

"He decided to read "Vampires Everywhere" last night and then was too scared to go to sleep.    At around 3:30 this morning he busted into the bedroom at the wrong time," Jake said, with an embarrassed laugh.   "He swears he saw a vampire in the backyard.   We're going to destroy those comics once and for all."

Johnston laughed, "Son, you just learned one of the most important points of parenthood.   Lock your door.    It's not his fault you were irresponsible.   Remember to lock the door from now on."   Johnston looked over at Gail and smiled, "Remember that time Eric caught us.      There's nothing like hand touching your foot and a very small voice saying "Daddy, I need to go bafroom".    To this day we still lock the door."

"Dad, please.   Way too much information," Jake said, with an embarrassed laugh.

Heather had turned a shade of burgundy that Jake found particularly cute.    

Johnston patted her hand, "Honey, it's OK.   It happens to all of us.   I can guarantee you it won't be the last time.   Sweetheart, you need to breath before you pass out."

Heather let out a pent up breath and laughed, "Can we change the subject?"

"Let's talk about the wedding," Gail said, jumping at the chance to plan.   "With two sons I never thought I would get to help plan a wedding."

"On that note, I'm going upstairs to talk to my son," Jake said.

******************************************

Jake walked into Jacob's bedroom.   He found him sitting on the floor playing with Star Wars toys Gail had found in the attic.    Jake sat down beside him on the floor.

"Hey, whatcha got there?"

"Boba Fett, Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon."

"I think those used to be mine.   I didn't know Mom had saved them.   I'm glad she did."

Jake took the toys out of Jacob's hand and turned him around so they were facing each other.

"We need to talk," Jake said.

"No we don't," Jacob said, blushing.

"Me and Heather talked about it last night and we're going to get married.   How do you feel about that?"

"It's OK."

"Just OK?"

"It's fine, Dad," Jacob said, reaching for the toys.

Jake put the toys in his shirt pocket, "We also need to talk about last night."

"Are you still mad?"  Jacob said barely moving his lips.  "I won't ever come in your room again without knocking."

"No I'm not mad.   I just want to know if you want to talk about anything that happened?"

"No!"

"OK, then.   One other thing.   Where are the comic books?"

"Da-ad, are you really going to burn them?"

"I am going to put them away."

"Yes, Sir," Jacob said quietly, with a large sigh, looking at Jake from under long bangs.    He got up and handed Jake a stack of comic books.    What Jake didn't know was that before breakfast, Jacob had hidden all but a handful of the horror comics in the closet.   The ones he handed Jake were the ones he didn't like and duplicates.      

"Dad, there really was a man in the backyard."

"Son, I'm sorry but I think that "man" came out of these books.   That's why I'm putting them away.    Grab your jacket and come on downstairs.  We're going to go to the Medical Center and see about getting that immobilizer off."

******************************************

An hour after lunch, Jacob was at the playground with his friends Brody, Matt, Lucas, Woody, Sam and Emily.   There were sitting on the edge of the sandbox talking.

"When did you get all that stuff off your arm?" Sam asked.

"This morning," Jacob said, throwing a rock into a puddle.    It felt good to be able to move his arm again.   Dr. Dhuwalia had removed the immobilizer and reduced the cast to just the forearm and hand that morning.

"So, your dad's getting married, huh?" Woody asked, drawing in the sand with a stick.

"Yeah, to Heather."

"Old Lady Lisinski?" Brody asked.   "Wow.   Boy are you in for it.   She's the worst teacher at school.    She makes you finish all your work before you can go to learning centers and she gives homework every night.   Even on weekends.    If you get in trouble, she makes you sit beside her on the playground.   She won't let you play."

Jacob sat there thinking about the school work Heather gave him every morning and how she wouldn't let him leave the table until it was done.

Matt and Lucas looked at each other and then looked at Jacob.

"I bet that now that all that stuff's off your arm, she makes you do chores," Matt said.   "That's what happens to steps.   You're gonna be a step not her real kid."

Jacob sat and looked at them with big eyes.   They were all looking at him and nodding in agreement.   How did they know?  He thought back to just before lunch when Heather had asked him to go outside and bring in the laundry.   And just yesterday, she asked him to clean up his room and make his bed.

"Just wait til they start having babies," Lucas said, "My dad and stepmom had three babies.   The only thing that matters is the babies after that."

"What about your mom?" Brody asked.  "You never talk about her.   Where's she?"

"I don't have a mom.   My dad never ever talks about her.   I think she must be dead.   It's always been just me and my dad since I can remember," Jacob said quietly, digging the toe of his shoe into the sand.   He was very uncomfortable talking about his mother.

"My mom had a boyfriend.   His name was Doug," Sam said.   "Him and my mom had a whole list of rules I had to follow.   I had to clean my room every day and take the trash to the basement.    I guess he was nice but I liked it better when my mom and dad were together."

"See, chores.   I told ya," Matt said.

"Jake don't listen to them," said Emily.  "They don't know what they're talking about.   Miss Lisinski is nice."

"Shut up, Emily," her big brother, Woody, said, "You're just a little kid.   You don't know anything."

"You can't make me," Emily said, sticking her tongue out at them.   She turned around and smiled sweetly at Jacob.   "Would you push me on the swing?   Please?"

The boys looked at each other and groaned.   They all got up and followed Emily to the swings.   Jacob started pushing her.

"Are they gonna make you be in the wedding?   My mom made me walk her down to the preacher," Matt said, shaking his head.

"I don't know," Jacob said.  "Nobody has said anything about it."

Jacob noticed a group of kids walking towards them.   He knew the big kid.   It was Mikey Kelly and he was a bully.     Deke and Denis Mack were with him.    The Mack brothers were as big as Mack trucks.

Jacob whispered to Emily, "Stop the swing."

Mikey and his friends stopped in front of the swings.   Mikey walked up and pushed Emily off the swing.

"This is our playground.   You better go home," Mikey said, puffing up his 10 year old chest.

"Mikey, leave us alone," Emily said, angrily.

"No, little baby," Mikey said pushing her again.

Emily started to cry.

Jacob stepped in front of Emily, "Leave her alone."

"Who's gonna make me, Shrimp?" Mikey said, shoving his finger into Jacob's chest.

Jacob knew three things:

1) Today Mikey had come here to pick a fight,

2) There was gonna be a fight because Jacob Green wasn't gonna chicken out, even though he was gonna get his ass kicked,

and 3) His dad was gonna be really mad.

He never gave Mikey a chance to go through the whole insults and pushing part of the fight.   He drew back his fist and let fly.   There was a dull crack and blood started flowing from Mikey's nose.

*******************************************

 
It was starting to get dark when Jacob snuck up to the house.   If he was lucky no one would be in the living room.  If he could just get to the upstairs bathroom without anyone seeing his face and bloody shirt no one would know he had been fighting....at least not tonight.   He peeked in the window and saw that it was full of people.    He saw Jake look at his watch and then out the window.    He looked annoyed.    Jacob exhaled sharply and whispered, " Damnit to Hell." (something he had heard his father say many many times when things weren't going the way he wanted them to.)

Quietly, very, very quietly and carefully he cracked open the front door and peeked around the side.   His dad and Heather, his grandparents and Uncle Stanley and Miss Clark were all sitting in the living room.    He pulled his hood up as far as it would go so that his face was totally hidden.     Jacob waited until they were all talking about the wedding and then slid into the room and tiptoed to the staircase.    He had made it to the third step when his foot hit a creak.    Jake looked towards the staircase.    Jacob quickly turned his head towards the left and slowly continued up the stairs.

"Hey, you're late.   Dinner's over.   Where were you?" Jake asked.

"Um, it's ok.  I'm not hungry," Jacob said going up another step, trying to pull the hood further over his face.

Jake caught the whole hood thing.   He knew his son and knew something was up. "Why don't you come back downstairs," he said calmly.

"Uh... I'll be back down in a minute.   My shirt is uh...dirty... let me change.   I'll be right back," Jacob said, keeping his back to Jake and trying to go up another step.   He silently pulled the zipper all the way up on his jacket.

"No, come on down.   No one cares what your shirt looks like."

"Dad, it's really dirty.   Please.   I'll be right back," Jacob said, making it up one more step.

"Come here, Jacob, let me see your face and shirt."

Jacob dropped his head, let out a big sigh and very slowly backed down the steps and came to stand at the foot of the stairs.   His head was bowed and the hood of his jacket was pulled so far down no one could see any of his face.   "What?"

"Look at me," Jake said quietly.

"Why?" Jacob said just as quietly.

Jake pulled the hood back.    Jacob quickly ducked his head to the side.    Jake put his finger under Jacob's chin and tilted his face up into the light.

Stanley whistled a low whistle.    Jacob's eye was black, there was a small cut in his eyebrow, he had goose egg knot on his cheek bone, his nose had blood drying on one side and his lip was busted.

"Now that's impressive," Stanley said.

"Are you OK?  What happened?" Jake asked, with a disappointed sigh.

"I'm fine.   Can I go upstairs now?" Jacob asked, very embarrassed at all the attention.

"No," Jake said, motioning Jacob to the couch.   He looked over at Heather, "Would you mind getting a washcloth and the first aid kit?"

Jacob sat down and bowed his head

Jake crouched in front of him and tilted his face up again "Let me get a better look at this," he said, examining Jacob's face.    "I don't think we need an ambulance just yet."  

Heather handed Jake the washcloth and first aid kit.   She sat down beside Jacob and put her arm around him.     Gail took the washcloth out of Jake's hand and started washing the blood off Jacob's face and then she started dabbing the cuts with antiseptic.

Jacob pulled away and looked at Gail and pushed her hand away, "Gran that stings like a mofo."  There were snorts of badly concealed laughter from Johnston and Stanley.   Johnston knew it was wrong but he was very happy to hear it.   Jacob wasn't a "Nanny's boy", there was some Green in him after all.

"Hey," Jake said sharply, smacking Jacob's leg.   "Don't swear at your grandmother!   Now, what happened?" Jake asked his son again.

"Me and Brody and Matt and Sam and Woody and Emily were over at the playground.   Mikey Kelly and his gang came and started picking on Emily.   I like Emily.   She's a girl but she don't got cooties or nothin (everyone smiled) and she's fun to play with.   I told Mikey to leave her alone.    He wouldn't so I hit him.    We kinda got into a fight.   Mikey is bigger than me but I got in a few good ones before Deke and Denis pulled me off him and held my arms behind my back.   Mr. Hawkins made us stop.   Dad, I couldn't let them be mean to Emily.   She's a girl."

"Jake, Mikey Kelly and the Mack brothers are bullies. They were always in the office," Heather said.

Stanley smiled and looked at Jake, "Ya know, he's getting more like you by the day.   Does any of this sound familiar?   Maybe take you back a few years?   How many of those did you get?" he said pointing at Jacob's eye.

Jake smiled up at Stanley, "Don't remind me."

"Jacob," Johnston said, proudly smiling, "how bad did you beat him up?"  Jacob smiled shyly up at his grandfather.   Johnston winked back at him.

"DAD!" Jake said looking at him with shocked eyes, "don't encourage him."  

"Sorry, Jake.   I've met that Kelly kid.   He needed a good kick in the pants."  

Jake shook his head in disbelief.    He couldn't believe that Johnston Green had just said that.   This was not the man he had grown up with.

There was a knock at the door.   Johnston walked over and opened it to find Deputy Jimmy Taylor standing there with his children, Woody and Emily.

"Hi, Jimmy, come on in," Johnston said.   "We're just cleaning up Jacob."   He looked at Woody, who was also bruised and bloody.   "It looks like you might have been doing the same thing."

Jimmy walked into the living room and squatted in front of Jacob and held out his hand.

"I understand that you stood up for my little girl today.   Mikey Kelly and Deke and Denis Mack are big kids.   That took a lot of courage.  Thank you," he said, shaking Jacob's hand.

Jacob turned a deep shade of red, "You're welcome, Sir."

Emily ran up and hugged Jacob, kissed him on the cheek and said, "Thank you, Jakey.   I love you."

Jacob turned even redder, if possible.    His eyes got big with panic and he absently patted her shoulder.    The look on his face said, "HELP ME."

Jimmy looked at Jake, got a serious look on his face, looked at his daughter and then at Jacob, "OK, Jake, just how much is your boy like you?   Should I be concerned about my only daughter?" and then laughed.   "I grew up with you.   I remember how you were.   You had a few fights over girls if I remember correctly."

"Oh, I think your little girl's safe.   He's only eight.   I didn't get serious about girls til I was at least nine or ten," Jake said, chuckling.

Everyone laughed.   Jimmy got up and started walking towards the door, "I just wanted to stop by and make sure he was alright and tell him thanks.   We'll see you tomorrow."

After Jimmy and his children left, Mimi looked at Stanley and poked him in the chest, "Have you been paying attention?    That was chivalry at it's best.   A boy who will fight for the safety of his girl."

Stanley looked at her, put his arms her and smiled his most charming smile, "You can always go down to the playground and find yourself an eight year old boy."

He looked over at Jacob, "Do you think any of your friends would like Mimi?"

***************************************

A couple of hours later Jacob was sitting in the window seat in his room.   He had Harry Potter open in front of him but his mind was back at breakfast and at the playground replaying the conversations from today.

"Why does everyone think I need a mom?"  he thought.  "I don't need a mom.   Everything was fine the way it was.  Dad don't need a wife."

He drifted off to sleep.

******************************************

Jake walked down the hall with a towel around his waist.   No matter how many he took, he didn't think he would ever get used to the icy shower.

He went into the bedroom to see Heather sitting in front of the fireplace wearing his long sleeved white t-shirt and a pair of his flannel boxers.

"What are you doing?" he asked incredulously.

She was spreading wax in a thin strip up her calf.   She had just finished putting a cloth tape over the top of it when he walked in.   She blushed.

"Waxing my legs.   You're supposed to be in the shower."

"When the water is 10 degrees below absolute zero it doesn't take that long."

Heather took a deep breath took hold of one end and yanked.   She gave a tiny yelp of pain.

"Oh, it can't hurt that bad," he said laughing while pulling on a pair of sweatpants.

He walked over to the fire to try to warm up.

"Oh no, really?"   She smiled evilly and laughed.   Heather quickly pulled up the leg of his sweatpants and put a long trail of wax on his leg and covered it with a cloth.

"Try it."

He looked at the white strip on his leg.  "I think I'll just leave it there.   I don't ever need to wear shorts.   Jeans are a good thing."

"But why," Heather said laughing, "it doesn't hurt, right?"

He looked at her and smiled, took one end of the tape and yanked.   His eyes watered and he said in a small voice,  "Nope, doesn't hurt at all."

He pulled Heather into his arms, "It's a good thing I love you....or I might have to kill you for that," he said, lightheartedly.    He bent down and kissed her neck, "Now, I do believe these belong to me," he said while hooking his finger in the waistband of the flannel boxers she was wearing.

*******************************************

Jacob's head was leaning against the window.  He was sound asleep.   The Harry Potter book he had been reading slipped from his lap and hit the floor with a bang.   He awoke with a start and saw the same man moving quickly across the backyard.   Jacob jumped out of the window seat, shoved his feet into shoes, grabbed his hoodie and made a beeline for the door.

Jacob quietly ran down the stairs, avoiding the fourth one from the top because it creaked.    He was pulling his hoodie over his head when Heather came walking down the hall from the bathroom.

"Hey, whatcha doin'?" Heather said.   "It's late."  She looked down and noticed he was wearing shoes.  "Were you going outside?"

Jake heard voices and came out of the bedroom just as Heather asked Jacob about going outside.   He noticed the jacket and shoes too.

"Why are you going outside?"

Jacob ducked his head and shuffled from foot to foot, "Uh, I saw someone in the backyard again.    I was going to check it out."

Jake looked at him with disbelief, "You were going to check it out?   Jacob, it's 1:30 in the morning.   What makes you think you were going outside to check something out in the middle of the night?   The only thing you're going to check out is the pillow on your bed."

Heather looked at Jake and opened her mouth to say something but Jake put his fingers over her lips, took her hand and shook his head.

"We've been through all this before," Jake said, looking from Heather to Jacob, "haven't we?   No one is in the backyard.   It's a fenced yard.   I would have seen them outside our window.   No one is there.   What you're gonna do is go upstairs, get in bed and forget this nonsense."

Jacob glared at Heather, "Now you've gone and got me in trouble.  Thanks."   He took his hoodie off and threw it as hard as he could into the corner beside the front door.

"Ok. Enough," Jake said, barely controlling his anger.   "Go upstairs and go to bed."  Jacob exhaled sharply and spun around to go up the stairs.  "You can stay up there for the next week too.  No going out.   You're grounded."

Jacob shot them both a nasty glare, "Fine!" and stomped upstairs.

Jake looked at Heather, who was visibly upset, and said, "God!  I hate this.   I don't do this.   This has always been the Nanny's part of the job."    He took a deep breath and slowly followed Jacob up the stairs.   He hadn't been this angry in a long time.

He stood outside the bedroom for a minute to try to get his anger under control and opened the door.

Jacob was sitting on the edge of the bed pulling his pajama pants on.    He didn't acknowledge Jake being in the room.

"What's wrong with you?" Jake yelled.

"Nothing."


"If nothing's wrong then it won't be a problem to go downstairs and apologize to Heather.   Lets go."

"She's not my mother.  She can't ask me questions about what I'm doing," Jacob muttered lowly.

"I don't care if she's a perfect stranger.   You're not going to talk to anyone like that.   Let's go.   You're going to apologize," Jake said reaching for Jacob's arm.


Jacob jerked away, stood up, looked Jake in the eye, pulled the covers back, got in bed and pulled the blankets over his head.

Jake stood without saying a word and then let out an explosive breath.   He turned and stormed out of the bedroom and came face to face with his father.

"Jake," Johnston said, "what's going on?"

Jake shook his head, "Dad, now isn't a good time.   Everybody needs to cool off.   Especially me."   He walked past Johnston and went down the stairs.

*******************************************
Heather was sitting on the bed with her puzzle book when Jake came back in the bedroom, obviously still mad.    She was trying to appear calm.    She thought they should have gone outside and looked around but she would never tell Jake that.  

He started going thru the pockets of his coat and jeans.

"What are you looking for?" Heather asked quietly.

"Cigarettes.   I need to go outside and calm down."

"Jake," Heather said, trying to look calm, "you can't go outside now.   Not after telling Jacob it was too late.   That would send the wrong message.   If it's too late for him at almost 2 am then its too late for you.    I can guarantee he would know."

"You're right," he said resignedly, smiling tiredly at her.  "You're always right when it comes to kids.    Maybe I should turn him over to you.   You would do a better job."   Jake sat down on the bed beside her and leaned over with his head in his hands.    "I don't deal with discipline.    I'm more your fun, buy you things, good time dad.    The nanny dealt with discipline."    He slowly shook his head and quietly said,    "I'm gonna screw this up.....just like I do everything.   I screw up everything I touch.    You better run the other way."

She felt so sorry for Jake at that moment.   What a feeling it must be to think everything you touch got messed up.   She reached over and softly rubbed the back of his head and neck.

"Jake, that's nonsense.   You're not screwing anything up.   You're a good dad.   He's a little boy whose world has changed drastically and he is just as confused as the rest of us.   He's testing you, Jake.   He wants to know what his limits are."   She laughed quietly, "Have you ever noticed how he watches everything you do?   He wants to be just like his dear old dad, God help us.   He'll be wiring mine entrances and bridges with dynamite before he's 12 if we don't watch it."

Jake smiled at her, "I don't know if the world is big enough for two Jake Greens."

"Well the world is right here.   Jericho, Kansas is the whole world right now.   I think it can handle both of you."    Heather hugged him, "Jake, an eight year old temper tantrum and a guilty father is not going to run me off.    I love you.   Let me help you.   We'll do this together.   You're not going to screw me up, us up or Jacob up.   I won't let you."

He leaned into her, "Alright, I'll take your word on that."

"Besides," Heather said, trying to lighten the mood, "we gotta have the whole discipline thing worked out before we have five or six more kids.   I'm not going to be bad cop to your good cop for the next 20 or so years!"

"Now that's a stretch of the imagination," Jake laughed.  "I bet Jimmy and Bill are waking up from nightmares right now at the thought of Jake Green being called a good cop."    

He put his arms around her and kissed her cheek, "Five or six kids, huh.   We're gonna be very busy.   Where are you planning on putting that many kids?"

"I was thinking we would fix up the ranch house and live out there.    I love the ranch house."

"You really have been thinking about this haven't you?    We'll go out one day and look around and see how bad a shape it's in.   Ya know, I don't think I've ever thought more than a week ahead.    I've always been your basic fly by the seat of my pants kinda guy.   This planning thing has potential though.   When exactly were you wanting to start our project?"

"I think we should be married first.    It's the preacher's daughter in me.   I want to be married before we get pregnant.   Is that OK?"

"Yeah," he said, softly smiling.   "Whatever you want is OK with me.  It's really late, why don't we get some sleep."    

********************************************

 
Jake and Heather walked into the kitchen the next morning.    Johnston and Gail were sitting at the table talking quietly.

Gail looked up and smiled, "Good morning.  Coffee?"

"Thanks," Jake said, pouring two cups.   "Where's Jacob?  He's usually up by now."

Just then Jacob shuffled into the kitchen, yawning.    He sat down in the chair beside Johnston, laid his head down on the table and closed his eyes.    

Johnston slid his coffee mug over in front of Jacob and winked at him, "This'll help."

Jacob looked at the mug, "Thanks, Grandpa," he said with a big yawn.

Jake looked at Johnston, "Dad, you're giving an eight year old black coffee?"

"Yep, he likes it.   It ain't gonna hurt him."

Jacob glared at Jake, "Is there anything you'll let me do now?   I'm grounded for forever.  Now I can't even drink coffee?" he yelled.   He picked the coffee cup up and took a big drink and banged it back down on the table.

"What is with you all of a sudden?   You're being a brat."

Jacob opened his mouth and then thought better of it.   He shoved his chair back and stomped out of the room.

Gail looked at Johnston and then over at Jake and looked at the backdoor.    She got up and tapped Heather on the shoulder, "Let's go upstairs and talk about the wedding."

******************************************

Johnston stood up and put his hand on Jake's shoulder, "Let's go outside.   We need to talk."

Jake knew this was inevitable....he had been waiting on this father/son chat since September.   He exhaled deeply, stood up and followed his father out to the porch and sat down on the steps.

"Alright, Jake, I respected you last night and didn't say anything.   What's going on?"

"Dad, I honestly don't know.    He was never like this at home.    Smart mouth occasionally but never like this."

"Jake, can you honestly say you knew what he was like in San Diego?   From what I'm getting it sounds like you weren't around much.   Do you even know that boy?"

"I was a single man trying to raise my kid.   I had to provide for him.   My job took me away.   I did the best I could."

"That woman who was raising him, she's done a good job.   She made him toe the line.   You aren't doin' that.   He's all out of sorts because he doesn't know what he can and can't do.   You've got to be a good father.....not a guilty father.    Jake, who's Sara?  Was she your wife?"

"Wha....What? Sara?  How did you find out about Sara?   No, she wasn't my wife.   I'm not married.   Never have been.   Sara was someone who was over before I left San Diego."

Johnston came over, sat down beside Jake and put his hand on the back of Jake's neck.

"Fatherhood is hard, Jake.   I know I've made it look easy all these years, but it's hard," Johnston said with a chuckle and wry smile.   Jake smiled at this too.   "There's not a tougher job.   It's time you step up the plate and get started.   Set limits.    Let him know what's OK.   He's beggin' to know.   It's time to quit being his friend....be his father.   Let the guilt go."

"If I'm readin' Heather right, and I think I am, she is more than willin' to help you.   Let her.   You better have this thing figured out and soon.    I heard your mother and Heather talking yesterday.    Heather is planning on lots of kids.   Last thing you want is a houseful of kids doin' to you what Jacob just did.   You gotta get this in hand, now."

"Son, you know that your mother and I are always here but we ain't gonna raise him.   That's your job."  

"I don't know what to do.   I'm clueless.   I've never had to deal with this, Dad.   Kate did all of it.    I played, she disciplined.   It was a good system.....I thought.    What do I do?"

"You go talk to your boy.   Don't put it off.   The longer it festers the worse it gets.  Go on.   Remember, talk to him...not at him.   Tell him what's expected.   He'll do it...eventually.   It might take 32 years but he'll do it."

Johnston looked at Jake and smiled, "You know, I would never admit this to your mother but I have a real problem with that.   Talking at people instead of to them.   I'm sure you never noticed."

Jake looked at Johnston with disbelief.    In his whole life he had never ever expected such an admission from his father.    He smiled tightly at his dad and thought, "Maybe we ain't so far apart" and got up.   He hesitated at the back door, took a deep breath and went in the house.

*****************************************
An hour later Gail and Heather heard laughing come from Jacob's bedroom.    They walked down the hall and peeked in and saw Jake and Jacob were laying on the bed talking and laughing.

"So, is everything better?" Gail asked.

"Everything is good.  Right?" Jake asked Jacob.

"Yeah," Jacob said smiling at his grandmother.    Jacob got off the bed and tried to weave his way between Gail and Heather, "Excuse me.... Mom," he said and started giggling.

Heather was shocked but tried to cover it with a big smile, "Your excused, Son," she said, smiling and bent down and kissed his cheek.

"Yuck!" Jacob yelled and ran down the stairs.

Jake got off the bed with a relieved smile on his face.    He walked over and put his arm around Heather's shoulders and squeezed.   He sighed a huge sigh of relief and laughed quietly.

"What did you say to him?" Gail asked, chuckling.

"This and that," Jake said, bending down and kissing Heather.

"Dad!!" Jacob bellowed up the stairs, "Deputy Taylor wants to talk to you."

*****************************************

Jake, Heather and Gail walked down the stairs.   Jimmy was standing just inside the door.

"I have my own personal bull horn," Jake said, laughing.

"Don't we all?" Jimmy smiled, "Calvin Lawrence can't pull his shift at patrol and I was wondering if you're busy this afternoon?"

He looked at Heather and raised his eyebrows in question.

"I don't have anything planned.  Go ahead," Heather said.

"Let me grab my jacket," Jake said to Jimmy.    

He looked at Jacob, "Remember, you're grounded."

****************************************

"Alright," Johnston said, a few minutes after Jake left, "I'm going out to look for a deer.   I'll be back later."   He picked up his rifle and walked out the back door.   They heard the truck start and pull out of the driveway.

Gail looked at Heather and in a perfect imitation of her son, bit her bottom lip, "Heather, I hate to ask you this.   I have a volunteer shift at the medical clinic this afternoon.   I didn't expect Jake to be gone.   Would you mind staying with Jacob?"

Heather looked out the back door and saw Jacob throwing the ball for the dog to fetch.   She smiled, "No, I don't mind at all."    She thought this was a perfect time for a jail break.

*****************************************

Hours later, Jake walked in the front door to find an empty house.    There had just been a hell of a storm and he had expected to see everyone in the living room.   But there was no one.

He saw a note taped to the front of his and Heather's bedroom door.    

In her perfect teacher's printing he read

1:30pm
Dear Jake,
I have taken Jacob with me out to the ranch.   We are having a science field trip for school.   We're also going to look around the house.    

See you this evening!!

Love you,
Heather

Jake looked at his watch.   It was 6:30 pm.   They should have been home hours ago.

To be continued........

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Thanks for reading my newest chapter.   Feedback is always welcome and appreciated!!!

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