A/N: Missing scene from idelthoughts's amazing fic "History Repeating" (which you should definitely read if you haven't) that bugged me for ages until I finally gave in and wrote it down. I suspect it's one of those things that worked better in my head, but hey, it was fun. Enjoy.
In Case of Emergency
"Abe's Antiques, this is Abe speaking."
"Hello, Abraham." From the other end of the line comes Henry's distinctive accent, of course. "I ran into something of a… situation."
Abe rolls his eyes, and he's pretty sure Henry can hear it in his voice when he says, "On my way."
"No, wait!" The response is lightning fast, the tone frantic. "I'm much more concerned about Jo."
"Jo? Why? What happened?"
Slowly, clearly choosing his words with great care, Henry says, "She ought to know I'm alright, that I haven't left her."
A lifetime with his father brings with it a proficiency at these phone calls that feel like chess games, and Abe hazards a guess a couple moves ahead. "You died in front of her, didn't you," he says, and it's not a question. He shakes his head – only Henry could make cutting open dead bodies dangerous work. How, he'd never understand.
There's a pause – Henry considering his words through the lens of whatever cover story he's drummed up this time, no doubt.
"Yes," he finally says, "she certainly brought the house down at the play the other night. Really broke a leg, as it were." Henry's audibly trying to keep his tone light for the benefit of his audience, but Abe can hear fear in it.
"Dad," he says, because some moments still warrant it, even after all these years, "are you seriously telling me Jo is stuck somewhere with a broken leg? Do you need me to call 911?"
"Brilliant, yes."
He sighs. "What's the address?"
Henry rattles off the intersection.
"OK, I'm calling 911 and then coming to get you, and you're telling me exactly what the hell happened, got it?"
"Yes, it was a rather interesting time," comes the reply.
Oh, the things Henry gets himself into.