Small Ficlet, set immediatly after the events of 2x07, so spoilers for the end of that episode (I think, because the promo pretty much said what was going to happen so ... A 'just in case' warning is all it is). Anyway, the ending may seem a little abrupt, this fic was longer in my head, but it should be ok. I think. I hope ...
Disclaimer: Don't own Dallas
Summary: John Ross, immediatly after the phone call in 2x07. Character study.
Rating: PG - mentioned character death.
Title: Dad?
"... Dad?"
His voice comes out weak, feeble, like a child's, and in that moment he knows it's lost. The line stays dead, static whispering against his ear, and suddenly he doesn't have the strenght to stand. He crumples back into his chair, numb with shock and tasting salt for some reason, and tries one last time. Hell, maybe it's fourth time lucky, not third ...
"D-daddy?" His voice stumbles, still sounding absurdly childish, and still no answer from the other end. The phone drops from his hand, clattering against the floor, the thump sounding loud in the silence.
He should call someone. Pick up the phone again, hang up on the static and call the cops. Or his momma. Or Uncle Bobby. Hell, even Christopher. But he can't move. He just sits there, straight backed in his chair, staring at the forgotten glass of whiskey on the table and wondering why it's blurred.
It's then he realizes he's crying, the salty taste on his lips from earlier explained, and he almost laughs. Does laugh, except the tears come on full force just as the first chuckle escapes his lips and suddenly he's sobbing and laughing, half hysterical, and fumbling for his phone again, almost pitching himself off the chair in his efforts.
It's Bobby he calls, and for the life of him he doesn't know why, and Bobby listens to him babble for maybe a minute before cutting him off.
"Talk sense, John Ross. What happened, are you alright?"
And that just starts him laughing again, because in the past few weeks, months, Bobby has called him pathetic, a son of a bitch and thrown him off Southfork twice, so why the hell should Bobby care if he's alright?!
Eventually he calms down, and manages to say something that must make sense, because Bobby asks where he is, and then promises to come get him. He hangs up the phone, manages not to drop it this time, and watches the Dallas skyline through the tears in his eyes, and tries not to think about what the hell he's supposed to do now.
xXx