Hello! Here's the second and last part of that short story. Thanks everyone for your reviews and following the story. Hope you'll enjoy that part. It's kinda cheesy but you know, the shipper in me can't help it O:), Jo and Henry's love story has so much potential that I'm having way too much fun with that. Feels ahead. Enjoy it and thanks again :)
Abe was at the river, looking for his father who wasn't breaking the surface of the water and it really got the elderly worried sick.
- Henry! Come on! Where are you?
He was seriously starting to freak out not to see his father rising, when he heard a very frightened voice, calling for him
- Abe!
Abe startled, and turned to see Jo running toward him.
His eyes went wide because if she was there, this wasn't good at all. She looked completely broken and Abe had to catch her when she met him because she was about to faint.
- wow wow! Jo! Breathe! What's going on, kid?
She tried to explain but tears flood her face
- It's Henry... He was... Oh, my god! Abe!
Abe tried to keep a straight face but deep down he was really nervous about what Jo was about to tell him or what she saw.
He helped her sit on the nearest bench and held her hand
- tell me what happened
She took a deep breath, she was still crying.
- Henry... - she sighed - I just broke every speeding law in the world, to actually get here... Henry, he told me you would be here. We were at the station and this Adam... He just...
She sobbed harder, unable to control the ocean of tears. Abe feared what was coming. His father couldn't be dead for good, he just couldn't.
- Henry's been shot... Abe... He died...
Abe felt a lump in his throat, he stood up and started pacing.
- I can't believe it.
- Abe...
- No Jo, you don't understand, the man can't die. I won't believe it...
Jo stood up and gave him a pat on the shoulder
- Abe! I thought I lost him too but his body just disappeared...Like nothing happened, but I don't get it... How?
Flash back
Jo had held Henry for some seconds after he died until she couldn't feel his body against her.
She opened her blurry eyes, breathless, confused. The pocket watch was still on her hand but no Henry, and there was no sign of him ever being there.
- Henry?
She stayed on the ground for a while until she recalled, Henry telling her about the East River and Abe. She slowly got up on her shaking legs and on her way back, she found her gun and a picture on the ground, and the picture completely caught her attention
- what the... ?
She shook her head and quickly moved to the East River.
Abe looked at her and tried not break down in tears, but tears of joy this time
- are you sure his body disappeared?
She nodded
- I told myself, I was in denial and was imagining things but there was no blood, nothing.
Abe felt lighter and hugged Jo
- This is wonderful!
Jo gave him a confused look until they heard a splash coming from the river. They both turned around and Jo couldn't believe her eyes, as Abe chanted
- Oh, thank God! He didn't die permanently! Damn it, Henry, I could have got a heart attack.
He was about to join his father on the shore when Jo ran past him, in a flash and he didn't have time to react
- Jo! Where...
But he just smiled when he saw her running down, toward the river.
Henry was barely at the shore when he saw Jo's silhouette running toward him and there's nothing that could stop her.
- Henry! - she screamed, half relieved-half scared
Henry quickened his pace, to meet her halfway despite his nudity but she got faster than him and just joined him on the water, all dressed, jumping into his arms, holding on to him for dear life. He lost his balance and they fell on the water, Jo on top of him, as she cried
- I thought I lost you forever!
Henry cupped her face, brushing a strain of her wet hair, behind her ear
- But I'm here now! I'm not going anywhere.
She buried her face in his neck, before giving him one long kiss on the lips.
- don't ever do that to me again!
Henry smiled widely
- no promise!
She nervously laughed and slammed his arm. They stood up and then realized the situation they were in and Jo's eyes suddenly traveled on Henry's body from head to toe. She blushed and quickly turned away as they walked toward Abe who had witnessed the whole and had an obvious grin on his face. After a very much needed hug with his father, he handed Henry a towel and dry clothes and another towel for Jo.
- lucky for you, I always keep a spare.
- thanks, Abe! - Jo was overwhelmed with emotion, and she still didn't know the whole story yet.
- let's go home now - Abe stated, looking at the two idiots giving each other the bedroom's eyes.
Henry wrapped in arm around Jo's waist as she leaned on him. Abe walked far ahead of them to give them a moment.
They stopped in their tracks and Jo reached out in her pocket and handed Henry his watch
- here! I think you're going to need it.
He smiled and kissed her forehead
- thank you for keeping it safe.
Jo stared at him, slowly stroking her fingers all along his face, to make sure he was real and very much alive, that she wasn't dreaming.
Once she made sure, everything was real, she showed him the picture she found at the station, which represented him, Abigail and baby Abe.
Henry's face changed, the minute he recognized the picture and Jo simply squeezed his hand and whispered.
- you have a lot to tell me about, right?
He nodded
- I do! But I hope you got one afternoon to waste
- I've got all the time in the world.
They were about to kiss when Abe yelled at them
- hey! You two lovebirds! You'll get time for that. Now move away, it's freezing here.
They laughed and walked hand in hand to the car.
- so you're immortal ? - Jo asked, to make sure she wasn't a part of some big joke
Henry nodded. They have been talking for the past five hours, Abe was there to support and confirm the story.
Henry had told her everything. His real birth date, the day he died, Nora, Abigail, what Abe was really to him and what Adam has been doing for the past year. He didn't leave one detail and Jo listened to his whole story without interrupting. At the end of it, she was confused and also impressed, but everything about that man all made sense. The skinny dipping, his knowledge about history and facts. All of that. And she witnessed his death herself, she couldn't, not believe him.
Though she still had troubles processing, she started pacing, Henry wanted to say something, but Abe prevented him from doing so. That was a lot to take in, for her.
After a long moment of silence, Jo finally spoke
- I believe you!
Henry thought he didn't hear well, as Abe smirked. Henry stood up to face her, still not quite believe he has been so lucky twice in his life
- Do you?
- Yes! I mean it's not like the facts aren't in front of me, so unless we are all in the same madness, I believe you, Henry!
His smile grew wider and he held her in his arms. He surely didn't intend to let her go. The phone from the shop rang so Abe exit to answer.
Jo and Henry remained in their embrace and all the love they were sharing, could be read in their eyes.
Jo opened her mouth but again, Abe interrupted
- sorry to break the mood. Henry, the hospital just called. They found Adam, he has been admitted in intensive cares.
Henry remained silence for a while
- I'll visit him tomorrow. It's getting late.
- which remind me, it's lasagna party tonight. Jo, you're staying for dinner. - Abe clapped
- I hardly can refuse any meals coming from you, Abe!
- glad to hear that!
Jo smiled and noticed Henry's intense stare on her, which made her blush like a teenager with her first love
- you should spend the night too - he softly whispered - you had quite the day too.
She couldn't deny that
- it's very nice of you to offer but I don't want to impose myself...
Henry shook his head
- nonsense! You are part of the family now. In fact, you have been for a while. It's late and you're probably tired so I'll be more confident if you were staying here.
She couldn't refuse anything when it came to him and his puppy's dog eyes weren't helping
- all right then! But I will have to borrow one of your shirt and a toothbrush
- fine by me - Henry grinned
They cleaned the place a bit and Jo asked
- And are you sure you want to visit Adam tomorrow?
He froze but he needed to make sure, Adam would remain in his lock up syndrome.
- I have to! I have to make sure, he won't get back anytime soon.
- okay! Can I come with you? I'll wait outside, I promise.
Henry smiled and nodded
- of course, you can come. I'll be glad to have you by my side.
He gave her a peck on the lips and they went to the kitchen to give Abe, a hand.
After a delicious dinner, everyone argued for the sleeping arrangements. Jo wanted to sleep on the couch and Abe argued that he wasn't going to let her sleep in that, that she would take his room, but both Jo and Henry yelled at him that at his age, he was better off in a bed. Of course, Abe groaned that his father was way older than that but the look he gave him, refrained him from making any further statements.
Henry finally got the last world on insisting very loudly that Jo would take his room and he would sleep on the couch.
She was getting ready for the night when Henry knocked at the door, half opened
- come in!
Henry entered the room and found himself speechless, seeing Jo, wearing one of his shirts, and she just had those nice beautiful legs. He blinked, he needed to focus.
Jo softly scoffed
- Henry! This is your bedroom, you don't need to knock
- I know but this wouldn't have been very gentleman-ish
She shook her head. Henry would never change, but she loved him that way. Her heart twisted at the realization.
- I wanted to know how you were coping - Henry started
Jo turned around and shrugged
- with the whole immortal thing and the fact you could be my great great great grandpa? It's still surreal but I'll get over it soon. I just need a bit of time to process.
- I understand!
Jo took a seat on the edge, of the bed and motioned to Henry, to join her
- I'm sorry, though - Jo spoke once Henry was beside her
- for what? - Henry was confused
- for anything that happened to you over the centuries. Seeing your love ones died one after the other... This is horrific, I'm truly sorry, you had to get through all this. You're a good man and didn't deserve all that injustice.
Henry was touched
- thank you, Jo! It means a lot coming from you
- no problem!
Her hand looked for his and he entwined their fingers
- Do you still miss her? - Jo asked after a while
Henry knew who she was talking about
- I think I always will, I just learned to live with it.
- This is so unfair. I mean, the way you found her and I gave you a hard time, in that case, I'm sorry.
Henry leaned forward and reassured her
- hey! It's fine Jo! You couldn't know. Don't worry about that now.
She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder, still holding his hand
- by the way, did you mean it?
This time, he had no idea what she was referring to.
- Did I mean what?
- I know you were dying so it's typical, you needed to say it. When you said you loved me, did you mean it?
The only answer he gave her was a kiss which intensified and Henry soon found himself on top of Jo, making the kiss lasting the longer he could
- I did! I love you, loved you from day one.
Jo held back her tears and blurted out
- I love you too Henry!
They kissed more intensely but they knew they didn't need to rush things, so Henry just rolled over, to lie on his back. Jo snuggled into him, striking his scar through the fabric of his shirt
- Henry?
- Yes, Jo?
- I promise you, as long as I'm alive, I will stay with you...
- Forever? - Henry finished her thought
- Yes! Forever!
By the way, I wanted to add a precision, the quick flash back I included, wasn't suppose to be a flash back at first, it was supposed to be the first part of this chapter but I figured out it would be funnier to make it that way, for more suspense, I know, this was very evil coming from me ;)
Also, Henry did visit Adam but I didn't feel the need to write that, from there, it would have been exactly the same as in the episode, only Jo would have been with him. I hope you enjoyed this little take from episode 22 and see you later for some others stories ;).